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“ In his fear lest the party should start without him, he had jumped in such blind 
haste on the gunwale of the boat that he lost his balance.” 

P. 9. 


Off to California 


A TALE OF THE GOLD COUNTRY. 


ADAPTED FROM I'HE FLEMISH OF HENDRIK CONSCIENCE. 

M 


BY 


JAMlcS F. COBB, F.R.G. S. 

AUTHOR OK 

THE WATCHERS ON THE LONGSHIPS,’ ‘MARTIN THE SKIPPER,’ ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED BY A. FORESTIEK. 




NEW YORK: 

K. AND J. 11 YOUNG AND Co. 

COOPER UNION, FOURTH AVENUE. 





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CONTENTS 



— 0 




CHAP. 




PAGE. 

I. THE GOLHEH BAIT 

• 


• 

1 

II. THE DEPABTURE 

* 


• 

6 

III. OH THE SCHELDT 

• 



16 

IV. AT SEA 

• 



. 20 

V. THE LIOH’s DEH 

• 



. 28 

VI. THE EQUATOR 

• 



. 34 

VII. THE SHARKS 

• 



. 38 

VIII. THE MUTINY 

• 



. 45 

IX. THE ARRIVAL 




50 

X. SAN FRANCISCO . 




55 

XI. THE LETTER 




69 

XII. THE GAMBLING-HOUSE 




. 75 

XIII. THE WEAPONS 

* 



83- 

XIV. THE SAVAGES 

* 



. 91 

XV. THE BANKRUPTCY 

• 



94 

XVI. THE GOLD SEEKERS 




. 100 

XVII. THE BUSHRANGERS 




. 108 

XVm. THE NUGGET 




. 115 

XIX. THE GHOST 

• 



. 122 

XX. THE WOUNDED MAN 

• 

• 

• 

o 

CO 

XXI. THE VAQUEROS . 




. 140 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP. 

XXII. THE DIGGINGS . 




PAGE 

. 148 

XXIII. THE GOLD DIGGERS 




. 164 

XXIV. LYNCH LAW 




. 175 

XXV. THE GRIZZLY BEAR 




. 184 

""XXVI. THE WILDERNESS 




. 192 

XXVII. EL DORADO. 




. 204 

XXVIII. THE WELL 




. 213 

XXIX. TREACHERY 




. 227 

XXX. THE CORPSES . 




. 235 

XXXI. DESPAIR 




. 249 

XXXII. DELIVERANCE . 




. 259 

XXXIII. THE RETURN 




. 270 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

DONATUS KWIK LOST HIS BALANCE AND FELL INTO THE 

WATEB ..... Frontispiece. 

THREE OB FOUR SAILORS THREATENED VICTOR WITH 

THEIR KNIVES ...... 42 

WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? ..... 84 

A LASSO CAUGHT -ROOZEMAN RODND THE WAIST . . 141 

DONATUS KWIK GOES INTO THE POOL . . .215 

THE WORK OF THE CALIFORNIAN SAVAGES . . 253 





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OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER I. 


THE GOLDEN BAIT. 


morning in the month of May, 1849, a 
young clerk was sitting alone before his desk, 
in the office of a small commercial house at 


Antwerp. 

He was tall and fair-haired ; there was a dreamy 
look in his delicate face, though hope and vigour shone 
in his bright blue eyes. 

He was busy writing : but he often stopped in his 
work to cast his eyes over a newspaper which lay open 
on the desk before him. Its contents seemed to have 
a strange charm for him, and he was plainly vexed with 
himself for allowing his attention to be so often turned 
away from his work. In the paper he read : 

‘‘ Gold is found there almost on the surface of the 
earth, and in such abundance that one has only to stoop 
down to pick up treasures. A sailor lately found a 
nugget of gold weighing more than twenty pounds, and 
worth at least 25,000 francs.’’ 


A 



2 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


The clerk looked up sadly. 

Some one opened the office door ; it was a strongly- 
built young man, with ruddy cheeks and black sparkling 
eyes — a picture of health and good humour. 

‘‘Jan, my friend, you will catch it ! ” said the clerk at 
the desk. “ Our master has been to the office, and 
showed his vexation at your absence.’’ 

“ That’s no matter to me, my good Victor,” replied 
Jan. “ It’s all settled ; I am going to say good-bye to 
the trade of quill-driving, and to this gloomy prison 
where I have so foolishly wasted some of the best years 
of my life. Hurrah ! I am going to roam over the 
world, free as a bird, and owning no other masters but 
God and Fortune ! ” 

“ What do you mean ? ” asked his companion. 

“ This is what I mean,” said Jan, drawing a folded 
paper from his pocket.. “ Here is the prospectus of a 
French Company, ‘ The Californian,’ which is having all 
sorts of tools and implements made to work the best 
mines in California. There, where the most precious 
metal can be picked up with the hands, it will be able to 
collect gold in heaps. Any one who likes can become a 
shareholder. For 2000 francs we get a free passage, ^ 
second class, in one of the Company’s ships, and receive 
two shares, which give a right to a double portion of the ' 
gold obtained. In California one has nothing to care 
for: the Company procures for its shareholders good ; 
food and comfortable wooden houses. As a third-class | 
passenger one pays only 1200 francs, and receives but ' 
one share. My father has consented to sacrifice 2000 


THE GOLDEN BAIT. 


3 


francs, so I shall become a shareholder in the * Califor- 
nian Company.’ The ship, the Jonas, will sail from 
Antwerp in a fortnight, for the gold land. Four other 
vessels will be despatched by the Company to California ; 
among them one from Havre, with the tools and the 
directors, who ought by this time to be at sea to receive 
the shareholders when they arrive.” 

Victor gazed at his friend with sparkling eyes. What 
he had just heard filled him with wonder. 

You are starting for the gold country ? You are 
going to California ? ” he said. 

“ Yes, old fellow ; within a fortnight.” 

“ You — you, Jan ! Has the thirst of gold so suddenly 
taken hold of you 

“ Why you, Victor, have yourself turned my head, 
by always talking about the strange country which has 
just been discovered. In the voyage I see a good way 
of escaping from this stifiing office life. Ah ! to-morrow 
I shall be free ! to-morrow I shall become a shareholder 
in the Company ! to-morrow I shall secure my berth on 
board the Jonas 

How lucky you are ! said Victor, sighing. I wish 
1 could become your companion ! 

‘‘ You have only to express the wish, Victor. Has 
not Lucia’s uncle said twenty times that he would lend 
you the money required if you liked to risk a voyage to 
California ? ” 

And my mother, Jan ?” 

Yes, your mother. But you know all parents are 
the same. If one did not make some effort to jump out 


4 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


of the nest they would keep us under their wings till 
one’s hair began to turn grey.” 

^‘Why, Jan, the very thought of such a plan makes 
my mother treihble ! Lucia’s uncle, when he comes to 
see us, talks of the long voyages he has made as a skipper, 
and then my poor mother turns pale. She has always 
been so good to me, that I cannot plunge a dagger into 
her heart.” 

‘‘ But, remember, it is the only way of winning Lucia. 
The captain is a rough fellow ; he hasn’t much respect 
for a man who passes his life bent over a desk, and who 
has only seen a little corner of the world. I reckon that 
if you go to California, he will gladly give you his niece’s 
hand on your return.” 

He has promised his consent, as soon as my salary 
reaches 2000 francs.” 

"'You will have to wait a long time, then. Why, 
the chief said yesterday that he should be forced to reduce 
our salaries!” 

Victor did not answer. 

"Perhaps you are afraid of such a long voyage ?” said 
Jan. 

" Afraid I ” exclaimed Victor. " Why, for six months 
I have been longing to undertake it. Not only does 
California open to me a chance of winning Lucia, but 
there is another strong reason. My mother has been 
hard on herself lately; she spent much of her little pro- J 
perty, in order to give me a good education. Her shop 
and my salary scarcely maintain us. The time has now 
come when my labour ought to bring some ease to her 


THE GOLDEN BAIT. 


5 


old age, and reward her for her love and sacrifices for 
me. Afraid of a voyage to California! None could 
long more than I do for that promised land ! Oh ! if I 
could go with you, I should thank God for His goodness 
with all my heart.*’ 

‘^Make another effort then, Victor. Heflect that other- 
wise you condemn yourself to remain all your life grow- 
ing paler and paler before that wretched desk: your 
youth passing away as sadly and regularly as an old 
clock. Man’s happiness consists in liberty, in seeing the 
world, and gazing on new wonders every day. And 
then, after two years of independence, to return to our 
native land with gold enough to enrich all those whom 
we love I There’s a glorious prospect for you ! ” 

Yes, yes ! ” cried Victor with excitement. ‘‘ I’ll ask 
her again. I will beg her consent on my knees ; I will 
entreat her by all she holds dearest in the world.” 

‘‘ And to-day I will go and see Captain Moreels, and 
tell him he must help you. Let me arrange it. ... A 
good idea ! We will share all together out there — as 
we have done here— good and evil.” 

“Hush, Jan!” said Victor in a whisper. “I hear 
our principal coming into the oifice.” 

“ Don’t say a word to him about my departure. My 
father might change his mind before to-morrow: one 
can’t say.” 

The two clerks took up their pens, and when the door 
opened their heads were bent in silence over their paper, 
as if they had been for hours absorbed in their work. 


( 6 ) 


CHAPTER II. 


THE DEPARTUKE. 



T was on a hot sunny afternoon in the month 
of June when a large crowd had assembled 
on the banks of the Scheldt, watching a fine 
brig which, with flags floating in the wind, lay moored 
in the port, ready to sail. It was the JomSy fitted out 
by the French Californian Company, the first ship to 
make a direct voyage to the newly- discovered gold land. 

The brig’s deck was already swarming with passengers, 
who waved their hats in the air. Hearty wishes of 
success were sent to them from the banks of the Scheldt. 
It was like a fair, in which the inhabitants of Antwerp 
did not seem to take less interest than the excited gold- 
seekers, although the emigrants were mostly French 
from the northern departments, for very few Belgians 
had been enticed by the brilliant promises of the Cali- 
fornian Company. 

A couple of boats lay alongside the quay, to take on 
hoard any laggards who were spending their last hours 
in the town. Towards these three persons were hastily 
making their way — a tradesman with his two sons, who 
had just come from a street which led on to the river. 



THE DEPARTURE. 


7 


‘‘ Look, look, father said the elder of the two young 
men ; there is the Jonas y ready to be off ! ” 

May God protect her ! ” said the old citizen, with a 
sigh. 

‘‘Surely you are not going to be sad now, father?’’ 
said the young man, laughing. “ What are two years 
in a man’s life ? I have wasted six at least before that 
stupid desk. Don’t he anxious, hut happy and confident. 
I shall return with heaps of gold and treasure, and it 
will be my pride to have won for my father and mother, 
a happy and peaceful life. Don’t he anxious, therefore : 
you will never have any reason to regret this voyage. 
But where is Victor ? Is he lagging behind, now that 
the critical hour has come ?” 

“ His mother and he have so many things to say to 
each other,” said the old citizen. 

“ Look, Jan, there they are coming,” said his brother. 
“ There is poor Lucia Moreels ; she is trying to appear 
happy, but the captain’s servant told me a week ago that 
when she is alone she does nothing hut cry.” 

“ Well, that is a proof that she loves my friend Victor, 
so I am glad of it for his sake.” 

The persons whose arrival had been announced by 
Jan’s brother soon appeared at the corner of the street. 
J?hey consisted of an elderly lady, who walked by the 
side of a young man, whose hand she pressed with 
anxious tenderness as she spoke to him. 

Behind them came an elderly man with sunburnt 
cheeks and large whiskers ; on his arm was a young girl, 
whom he was trying to persuade that a sea voyage was 


8 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


not more dangerous than a little excursion to Brussels 
by railroad. 

Victor, Victor ! make haste ! they are already weigh- 
ing anchor ! cried Jan, who stood up in one of the boats ; 
‘Hhere is no time to lose.” 

When the widow saw from the hanks of the Scheldt 
the frail skiff which in a few minutes was to hear — 
perhaps for ever — her beloved son from her arms, tears 
ran down her cheeks, and she pressed him sobbing to her 
heart. Victor was deeply moved by the tender embrace, 
and he did all he could, by soothing words, to comfort his 
mother in her bitter grief. 

The old captain had at last to drag him from her 
arms, while Jan again called out that the boat could not 
wait any longer. 

Victor took Lucia’s two hands in his, and his earnest, 
loving gaze seemed to ask her, ‘‘ Will you wait for me ? 
Will you remember me?” 

Once more he embraced his mother, whispering words 
of love into her ear. Well, since God wills it,” she 
said, sobbing, go, my son ; I will pray for you every ’ 
day. Do not forget your mother.” 

Victor went down into the boat. The oars dipped 
into the river, but at that moment a young man was 
seen running in the distance, waving his arm above his 
head, and calling out: — 

“Wait an instant, I implore you! I am Donatus 
Kwik. I have paid for my passage ; I must go to the 
gold country, too ! ” 

He seemed to be a peasant; the long blue coat 


THE DEPARTURE. 


9 


reaching nearly to his heels, his bronzed face, and his 
large hands and brawny limbs, told that he had left the 
labour of the fields, in pursuit of fortune. 

His first step was not a happy one. In his fear lest 
the party should start without him, he had jumped in 
I such blind haste on the gunwale of the boat that he lost 
I his balance and fell head first into the water. One sailor 
seized him by the hair ; another, helped by Jan, dragged 
him into the boat, amid shouts of laughter and applause 
from the crowd on the quay. 

The peasant looked round him with confusion, rubbed 
his head, and as he spat the water from his mouth, he 
mumbled, — 

There is too much salt in that soup, comrades. You 
need not have torn out half of my hair ; I can swim 
like an eel.” 

But as the boat bounded onwards beneath the quick 
stroke of the oars, Donatus Kwik sank down on his knees 
and held on to the gunwale. 

Yictor had scarcely noticed this incident. His eyes 
were still fixed on the spot where his mother and Lucia 
were making cheering signs to him, as if they thought, 
dear souls ! that he was more unhappy than they were. 

Jan stood up on a bench. He shouted one last fare- 
well to his father and brother, waved his hat, and raised 
a loud hurrah. 

These joyful cries had a strange effect upon Donatus 
Kwik. He jumped up, threw himself upon the neck 
of the excited young man, and pressed him in his arms 
with such force, that Jan felt the cold water wet him 


10 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


to the skin. He angrily pushed away this rude 
travelling companion, exclaiming, — 

I say, my good fellow, are you mad or drunk ? ’’ 

I think, perhaps, I have had a little too much ; the 
Antwerp beer is very strong.” 

Don’t you see that you have wetted me and spoilt 
my clothes ? ” 

“Ah! I had forgotten the cold bath. Never mind, 
comrade, we can buy as many clothes as we like out 
there— barrows full of gold ! ” 

“ What part do you come from ? To hear you talk, 
one would say from Mechlin ? ” asked Jan. 

“You have guessed nearly right. I am Donatus 
Kwik, son of a peasant at Natten Haesdonck, in 
Brabant. My aunt is just dead. I have come in for 
her money : but there is not enough to please me, so 
I am going to seek for gold. On my return I shall 
marry Helena, the notary’s daughter, or Trina, the 
burgomaster’s, or the young lady of the Castle. I shall 
pick up so much gold that I shall be able to buy the 
whole village ! ” 

Jan, shrugging his shoulders, turned away to his 
friend Victor, whose eyes were still fixed on the quay, 
and began to chaff him about Lucia’s love for him. 

Donatus broke in on their conversation by showing 
them a piece of printed paper. 

“ Comrades, look here I ” he said. 

“You are a bore, and somewhat too familiar with 
your ‘ comrades,’ ” said Jan, in an angry tone. 

“Well, I will say ‘gentlemen,’ as you wish it, though 


THE DEPARTURE. 


II 


I’m not so poor as you seem to think. Come, will you 
tell me, gentlemen, what this is which I hold in my 
hand?” 

It’s an English five-pound note,” replied Victor. 

‘‘ Yes, but how much in francs ? ” 

Bather more than 125 francs.” 

I was afraid that the Jew with whom I changed my 
money had cheated me with these papers.” 

Have you many of them ? ” asked Victor, smiling. 

Looking askance at the sailors, the peasant whispered 
into the ears of the two friends, — 

I have four of them, the remnant of my legacy. I 
could have put these 500 francs out at interest with our 
village banker, but it is well to be prudent, as one can’t 
tell what may happen out there. Supposing we were 
taken in, and didn’t find any gold after all ? Donatus 
then would not be the first to die of hunger ! ” 

The boat now reached the ship, on board which the 
new-comers were quickly welcomed. 

Then the Jonas weighed anchor and spread her sails. 
Sbe was soon moving onward before a fresh breeze. 

She fired a farewell salute to the city of Antwerp, 
which was replied to by the guns of the port. The 
sailors on the yards waved their caps, the passengers 
filled the air with their shouts, the quays resounded 
with the good wishes of the crowd, as the Jonas glided 
over the waters. 

Donatus Kwik jumped about like a madman, waving 
his arms about, and crying '' Hurrah ! hurrah ! ” in a 
voice far louder than that of any other of the passengers. 


12 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


and very like tke braying of an ass. As he pushed 
against everybody, he received some cuffs in the back 
and not a few kicks in the legs, but of these he took no 
notice. 

Going up to the two friends, who were still gazing at 
the crowd on the quay, he pushed his head between 
them, and said rudely, — 

Ha ! ha ! comrades, are you ill ? I meant to say, 
gentlemen, are you sad ? ” 

^‘IJpon my word!’^ cried Jan fiercely, if you 
bother us in this way I will knock you down ! Do you 
hear, Donatus Kwik ? ” 

‘‘ But down in the third class there is not a soul who 
understands me : they are as stupid as calves ; they don^t 
understand a word of Flemish,’’ said Donatus. 

‘‘ That’s not my affair ; go away, I tell you.” 

The peasant, seeing he was in earnest, went away 
grumbling. 

‘‘ How proud these town folks are ! As if I shouldn’t 
find as much gold as they, and perhaps more ! If my 
own countrymen won’t talk to me I shall have to sew 
up my mouth. Hurrah for California ! ” 

And turning round like a top, while he waved his 
arms like a windmill, he jumped into the midst of a 
group of merry people. 

Now the city of Antwerp disappeared from the 
passengers’ sight. The Jonas scudded on before the 
breeze. 

“ Come, Victor,” said Jan, taking his friend’s hand, 

let us go down and look after our provisions.” 


THE DEPARTURE, 


13 


Yes/’ replied Victor ; let ns drink to the success 
of our voyage ! ” 

While they were sitting below talking of their plans 
and hopes, the Jonas was dropping down the Scheldt as 
far as Callao, where she anchored to await the next 
day’s tide. 

The captain, notwithstanding his harsh and severe 
air, was very amiable towards the passengers; he 
encouraged them to pass the evening gaily, handing 
round pipes and tobacco, wine and spirits. “ Hurrah 
for our good captain ! ” was the cry raised as he passed 
along the deck. 

All this time the sailors were exchanging glances with 
one another, as much as to say that the captain’s friendly 
manners concealed a secret. 

He allowed the passengers to amuse themselves up to 
ten o’clock, then he gave them to understand that each 
must go to bed in his appointed cabin. Soon all was 
silent on board. 

Towards midnight boats quietly left the ship and 
made towards the Flemish bank of the Scheldt, return- 
ing as quietly with fresh passengers. Then the sailors, 
by the light of the lanterns, drew some planks from a 
place where they had been hidden, and began to hammer 
up berths out of these planks — prepared for the purpose — 
for the new-comers. The passengers in bed in their 
cabins were not surprised at the noise, for they had been 
told that during the night a new kitchen was to be made 
for their convenience. 

In the port of Antwerp, as elsewhere, there are 


14 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


regulations whicli fix the number of passengers which 
a vessel is allowed to carry, according to her size. A 
commissioner visits the ships before their departure, 
counts the passengers, measures the space assigned to 
each, weighs and examines the provisions, to be'certain 
that the passengers who embark shall want neither 
space nor food enough. Upon the Jonas they had 
found a superabundance, both of room and provisions, 
and all was arranged for a hundred men, without 
counting the sailors. 

But whilst the commissioner was finishing his visit by 
pronouncing the words All right,^’ the train from 
Flanders brought fifty more gold-seekers, all Frenchmen 
from Lille and Douai, who were guided to Callao by people 
bribed for the purpose, in order to embark secretly at 
midnight on board the Jonas, The result of this fraud 
was a net gain of thirty or forty thousand francs for the 
Company ; as they received the fares of fifty passengers 
who, according to the law, they were forbidden to take 
on board* 

The addition of such a number of people would be a 
Cause of great inconvenience, but the captain did not 
seem to trouble himself about it. He answered a 
remark of his mate : — 

‘‘ That will be all right, Helis. There are provisions 
enough, and we will decrease the rations if necessary,’^ 
But the water, captain ? There is not half sufficient 
for so many people.’’ 

“ I know it, Nelis. That takes too much room : we 
will replenish our stock at the first American port.” 


THE DEPARTURE. 


15 


‘^The passengers will be greatly astonished at the 
arrival of so many fresh companions/’ 

‘‘ That does not matter in the least, if we can only 
prevent complaints till we are out of the Scheldt. Once 
in the open sea, I shall know well enough how to stop 
their mouths. Tell Jacques, the chief cook, to light a 
fire at once, and to cook beefsteaks for everybody. At 
breakfast we will give them a good glass of rum. You 
will see, Nelis, that they will be pleased at the arrival 
of these new companions. Take care that all is ready 
to raise the anchor at dawn. The vessel ought to be 
under sail before the passengers have left their berths.” 


( i6 ) 


CHAPTEE III. ; 

ON THE SCHELDT. j 

EFORE most of tlie passengers had made their 
appearance on deck, the Jonas was already 
several miles on her way. Some expressed i 
their surprise at the sight of so many new-comers, while ^ 
others suspected foul play; but the captain gave them . 
to understand that these passengers were really included I 
in the official list, they were late, having missed the train, , 
and therefore had been sent on to overtake the vessel. 
The good beefsteaks and the rum convinced the most 
suspicious ; and as the new arrivals seemed principally 
merry fellows, they all soon began to dance and sing as ^ 
thoughtlessly as on the previous evening. 

Now, however, Donatus Kwik had no desire to share 
the general joy. The two Antwerpers found him sitting | 
sadly in a corner, his head buried in his hands. Victor, 
out of pity, asked him what was the matter. ' 

‘‘ I am ill, gentlemen,’* he replied : sick as a horse ' 
from the beer of Antwerp, and from the still worse gin, 
which that poisoner of a captain made me drink last 
night. Oh, my poor head! There are three or four 
men threshing corn inside it ! How I wish I was in 
our hay-loft at Natten Haesdonck ; for down in that 
pigsty of a cabin, a marmot would scarcely be able to i 




ON THE SCHELDT. 


17 


sleep. IVe had the night- mare all night : a block of 
gold as big as a millstone on my stomach. It’s all the cap- 
tain’s horrid gin ; I wouldn’t give ten sous for my life ! ” 
“It all comes of taking too much,” said Jan, laughing; 
“ you’ve only yourself to blame.” 

Victor tried to comfort the poor man, assuring him 
that he would soon be better. 

“ May I know, if you please, with whom I have the 
honour of speaking ? ” asked Ponatus. 

“ My name is Victor Roozeman.” 

“ And that gentleman there ? ” 

“ That is my friend, Jan Creps.” 

“ Well, Mr. Rooseman, I thank you heartily for your 
I kindness. I was rude and stupid yesterday, I confess. 
Pardon me, gentlemen ; it shan’t happen again. I can 
j read and write ; I have been well brought up, and ought 
i to know how to behave. When I am well again, allow 
me now and then to exchange a few words with you. 
It’s not pleasant to have no one but myself to talk to. 
Oh dear ! oh dear ! how my head burns ! ” 

All this time the JonaSy borne along by a fresh 
breeze, was sailing down the Scheldt. Most of the 
passengers on the deck were more excited than on the 
previous day. They had partaken of their first dinner 
on board : an abundant meal, consisting of roast beef 
and fresh vegetables for all, and even some roast fowls 
for the more delicate of the two first classes. After this 
they had their ration of wine or spirits, under the 
nfluence of which some had become quite drunk, and 
)thers wild and flighty. 

B 


OFF TO CALIFOkNiA. 


i8 

The mate tried to restore some degree of order on the 
deck, but the passengers only laughed at him. Yery 
angry at this, he went up to the helm, where the captain 
with a grim smile was watching the merriment among 
the passengers. To his complaint, he replied, — 

Let the noisy folk alone, Nelis. Do you see those 
clouds rising over the sea ? The wind will soon get up, 
and as soon as the Jonas begins to dance there will be 
an end to all this bluster ! 

At this moment, Donatus Kwik, pale and haggard, 
ran up to Jan and Victor, threw himself on his knees 
before them, lifting up his hands in a supplicatory 
manner. 

“ I pray you,’’ he cried, have pity on a poor 
Fleming ! I am going to die — I am poisoned ! ” 

The kind-hearted Victor, thinking this might possibly 
be true, took his hand and raised him up, inquiring 
what had happened. 

“ Ah ! good Mr. Eoozeman ! ah ! Mr. Crops ! I was 
not well, you know, as I told you,” groaned the peasant. 
‘‘They did not understand me down below. They 
laughed at my sufferings. Some one went to look for 
a doctor, and a man came with a large red nose. He 
poured about a quart of salt water down iny throat, and 
a red powder — Cayenne pepper, I’m sure. Alas ! alas ! 
I’m poisoned ; it is all over with me ! Help ! help ! ” 

“DonT you see, gentlemen, that that fool is sea-sick?” 
said a German, who passed by at the moment. 

The two friends smiled at this remark, and tried to ' 
persuade Donatus that his illness would soon pass away ; 


ON THE SCHELDT. 


19 


but the poor fellow was in great pain, and putting both 
bands to bis chest hurried down below to bide himself. 

As the captain had predicted, the sky soon became 
covered with clouds, while the wind, though still favour- 
able, increased in force, and the Jonas began to dance 
on the waves which hastened to meet her from the 
open sea. 

The captain went up to the mate, and said, ‘‘ The end 
of all this folly has come now, Nelis. There are twenty 
of them yonder with their heads over the side.” 

The songs and merriment, indeed, were soon silenced. 
Half the passengers were terribly sick, while many of 
them were ignorant of the cause of this mysterious 
malady, which had so suddenly prostrated them. 

Victor was one of the first to be attacked by sea-sick- 
ness: Jan, however, did not suffer at all: so he took 
his friend by the arm, led him to his cabin, and helped 
him into bed. 

At last only about twenty passengers remained on 
deck, and these were not altogether at their ease. They 
gazed silently at the waves, which, with a monotonous 
roll, beat against the sides of the ship. 

When at the mouth of the Scheldt the Jonas entered 
the channel, the captain remarked to Helis, ‘‘It will 
be some days before these fellows find their legs again. 
We must use that time to get everything into order. 
Let the sailors understand that they are to have no 
dealings with the passengers. My orders are to be 
strictly obeyed. I will be master in my own ship. We 
are at sea now ! ” 


( 20 ) 


CHAPTER IV. 

AT SEA. 

HE sea, indeed, was very rough for four days, 
growing worse as they proceeded down the 
channel, where they had to contend with con- 
trary winds. All this time the passengers kept in their 
cabins, fearing to move, loathing the sight of food, and 
suffering from all the misery of sea-sickness. 

On the night, when they left the channel to enter the 
Atlantic, the wind had fallen and the waves became 
calmer. While the Jonas continued her voyage under a 
clear and starry sky, the passengers felt the influence 
of this favourable weather. For the first time they 
enjoyed some sleep, which seemed to give them renewed 
life. 

Next morning, they appeared one by one upon the 
deck, with faces almost as cheerful as on the day of their 
departure. Creps and Eoozeman were especially happy. 
Victor, seeing himself surrounded by a boundless hori- 
zon, raised his arms to Heaven, and thanked God for 
having brought them so far on their way safely. 

Many of the passengers, wishing to celebrate their 


AT SEA. 


21 


restoration to health by a noisy carouse, had recourse 
again to the bottle ; but the captain now showed him- 
self in his real character, of a stern and rough officer. 
He read a number of regulations to them, which forbade 
all disorderly cries and crowds on the deck. He told 
them that disobedience to these rules would be punished 
with imprisonment in the black hole, and rations of 
bread and water. 

The passengers listened with angry surprise; some 
clenched their fists, protesting against such rules, which 
they said deprived them of all pleasure and liberty : but 
the captain gave them to understand, in a few words, 
that the law gave him unlimited power on board his own 
ship, and that he had even the right to shoot those who 
rebelled against him. When some murmured at this 
explanation he began to utter such terrible threats, that 
the passengers saw he was really in earnest, and sub- 
mitted to their fate. The sailors were not more civil 
than their captain. If they saw several friends standing 
together talking on the deck, a sailor would run up 
dragging a rope, or some other large object, and cry out, 
‘‘ Out of the gangway there ! Look out for your legs ! 
Two or three others, meanwhile, coming as rapidly from 
the opposite direction, would pour pails of water all 
over the deck. 

A third would call out from the top of a mast, “ Take 
care below there ! Look out, you land-lubbers ! after 
which simple warning he would let a huge block fall 
like a thunderbolt on the deck, at the risk of nearly 
crushing some one. 


22 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


The captain, wishing to show the passengers that life 
at sea was not a pleasant one, ordered the sailors to go 
about their duties as if there was no one on board except 
the crew. 

Towards noon the passengers were summoned on deck. 
The captain stated that they were to be divided into 
companies of eight, to dine together out of a large tin 
dish. He then read a list of the passengers, and each 
time he had named eight men he called out, First mess ; 
second mess ; third mess and so on. 

When this arrangement was completed, notwith- 
standing many murmurs and complaints, the captain 
told them that henceforth the fresh bread and the few 
fowls that remained, would be reserved for invalids. The 
other passengers must content themselves with the usual 
daily sea rations, viz. salt meat, peas or beans, biscuit, 
a small allowance of gin, and a quart of fresh water. 
Each mess must send one of its members, who were to 
take their turn, week about, to the kitchen, to fetch the 
dinner for the others. 

Immediately after the bell was rung for the victuals 
to be distributed, men were seen running on all sides 
with tin plates full of smoking food, and a few minutes 
later all the passengers were sitting round their 
messes. 

Fate had given very strange messmates to Jan and 
Victor, — a French magistrate, who had fled from his 
country for unknown reasons ; a doctor of medicine ; a 
German banker, who had lost everything at the Hom- 
burg gambling-table ; a young gentleman of West 


AT SEA. 


23 


Flanders, who had spent the last remnant of his inhe- 
ritance before starting for California; a French officer, 
who boasted that he had killed his superior in a duel. 
At first sight Victor thought that he had not much to 
complain of ; and, in fact, as our friends belonged to the 
second class, they were not mixed up with the poor 
third-class passengers, who all slept and lived together 
between the decks. 

However, Victor’s sensitive heart was soon wounded 
by the coarse and profane conversation of his com- 
panions. He looked on in surprise, as they seized the 
food eagerly and devoured it. If Creps had not warned 
his friend in time, Victor would not have begun his 
dinner till scarcely a bean was left in the plate. The 
doctor drew a bottle of brandy from his pocket, which 
he half emptied ; the others, lighting their pipes, went 
on deck, where they found most of the passengers, 
some lying stretched in the sun, others seated on 
benches, or walking about. 

What a bad set of fellows we are thrown with ! ” 
said Eoozeman to his friend. 

“Yes,” answered Creps: “but you don’t know all 
yet. While you were sea-sick, I walked about the 
deck and through the cabins to make a nearer acquaint- 
ance with our travelling companions. There are a few 
honest fellows among them, but the majority are rogues 
who have deserved the gallows, or perhaps have really 
escaped from it. Many are drunkards, who have left 
wives and children in misery, and taken their last 
penny to go to California. There are, too, spendthrifts. 


24 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


ruined gamblers, bankrupts, and even convicts, amongst 
them. 

pleasant set of companions!’’ said Victor, with 

a sigh. “ If I could only have foreseen it ! ” 

You would have stayed at home ?” 

ISTo ; but I shouldn’t have chosen the Jonas for the 
voyage.” 

‘‘ Well, as we can’t help ourselves we must make the 
best of it. On our long voyage and in the savage land 
to which we are going you must expect to see and hear 
different things than you did with your pious mother 
and the gentle Lucia Moreels.” 

Certainly, Jan, I must submit to my fate ; but it 
will cost me something to get used to these rude fellows, 
whose words and manners sadden my heart.” 

As the two friends were talking together and pacing 
the deck, they saw Donatus Kwik, who was munching a 
sea-biscuit, grumbling, and making angry gestures. 

As the peasant had not noticed them, Eoozeman put 
his hand on his shoulder. Donatus turned round, and 
with clenched fists assumed the air of a man ready 
for a fight. When he saw the Antwerpers he became 
calm at once, and exclaimed, ‘‘ Oh ! excuse me, gen- 
tlemen, I thought it was that Frenchman from down 
below.” 

‘‘ Haven’t you had your rations, that you are eating 
biscuits after dinner?” asked Creps. 

^‘Fine rations, indeed!” said Donatus. ‘‘We all 
eight sat round a tin dish and began to dine. Suddenly 
one of those villains from down below came behind me, 


AT SEA. 


25 


put his hands over my eyes, and called out something 
which I did not understand. When he let go, the dish 
was almost empty. I tried still to get my share, hut 
my companions were too quick for me : there was nothing 
left. With an empty stomach, I sat looking at them 
like an owl staring at the sun. But afterwards I paid 
out that Frenchman with the big moustaches and little 
: eyes. My kicks have given him some blue marks on 
: the legs, which he won’t find very pleasant.” 
j ‘‘Fighting already, Donatus! You must he more 
peaceable, my friend, or you will have a rough life with 
those comrades of yours,” said Eoozeman. 

“ Fighting, indeed, sir ! Why, after six of them 
t; had set upon me with blows and kicks, they chucked 
I me out of their brigands’ nest down below, up on to the 
i deck ! I went to the captain to complain, who speaks a 
sort of sea-Dutch and understands me. But he only 
swore at me, and said that each must do his best to 
get his share in the mess. ‘So much the worse,’ he 
added, ‘ for the lazy ones.’ ” 

j “He was right there; you must try and follow his 
advice.” 

“ Try, gentlemen ! That is not necessary. All my 
life I have eaten out of a common dish. If it had only 
to do with eating fast, and swallowing hot beans, I 
could teach those Frenchmen how to do it. Wait a 
i little. They’ll soon see with whom they have to deal. 
Hone of their blows can hurt me, and I will give them 
such kicks as will take the skin off their shins.” 

Yictor tried to calm his anger, and in the company 


26 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


of the Antwerpers he forgot his ill-humour. 'No one 
in the cabin understood him, and as they perceived that, 
notwithstanding his coarse appearance, he was a sensible 
fellow and grateful for any kindness, they" let him remain 
some time in their company. 

While they were walking about together, Jan chaffed 
him about the burgomaster’s daughter and the young 
lady of the castle, one of whom Donatus wished to 
marry on his return from the gold country. The young 
peasant looked serious, and had to confess to a more 
modest attachment. For years he had fixed his choice 
on one of the daughters of the police constable of Natten 
Haesdonck, and the girl liked him ; but the father, who 
possessed some acres of land, had rejected him with con- 
tempt because he was too poor, even after his aunt had 
left him 1600 francs. All he had said about the burgo- 
master’s daughter and the lady of the castle was empty 
boasting ; Anneken, the constable’s daughter, was his 
only sweetheart. In shame and despair he had left his 
native village because Anneken’s father had shown him 
to the door, when he had ventured to confess the wishes 
of his heart. The only cause for his journey to the 
gold land, was his desire to lay a large nugget of gold at 
the constable’s feet, and thus bring him to consent to 
his marriage with his daughter. Anneken had promised 
to wait, although her father wished to make her take 
another husband, but she vowed she would marry none 
other than her poor Donatus Kwik. He spoke with 
such admiration of Anneken, that Victor was quite 
pleased to listen to him ; for his own case resembled that 


AT SEA. 


27 

of Donatus, whose words made him think of Lucia and 
his mother. 

Thus they chatted of the friends they had left behind, 
and of their plans for the future, till night obliged them 
to seek rest in their cabins. 


( 28 ) 


CIIAPTEE V. 

THE lion’s den. 

HE Jonas continued her voyage under favourable 
winds. The food, although for the most part 
only salt meat and beans, was distributed in 
sufficient quantity to appease the hungry passengers. 
The splendid weather and the quick voyage filled all 
hearts with courage and hope. 

A cloud, however, threatened the peace of the ship. 
There were in the third class more than a hundred pas- 
sengers ; among whom were sixty Frenchmen, and at least 
thirty Germans from the banks of the Ehine. Already a 
sort of rivalry had arisen between the two nations, which 
had once ended in a fight in which a German had 
received a cut in the arm. The captain, seeing here a 
good chance for showing his authority, ordered both the 
aggressor and the wounded man to be thrown into a dark 
and damp place at the bottom of the hold, which was 
called ‘ The Lion’s Den.’ The friends of the condemned 
wished to oppose the execution of this sentence ; but the 
captain said that he would give all those who dared to 
resist him over to the police at the first port which they 
approached, and that in any case he would disembark 
them there. Those who did not wish to lose their 



THE LION^S DEN. 


29 


passage-money or to interrupt their journey to Cali- 
fornia, therefore, had nothing to do but to submit as 
best they could. 

This event made a deep impression on all. The 
passengers felt that the captain was a man who did not 
hesitate to carry his threats into execution. His ordi- 
nary behaviour, too, tended much to increase his autho- 
rity. He usually stood upon the poop, quite alone, with 
a hard and stern look on his face. When a passenger 
addressed him, or complained of anything, he only 
answered in a short and sharp tone, and would not enter 
into any conversation. 

Eoozeman and Crops walked up and down the deck 
almost the whole day, speaking of their past lives, and 
of their friends at home, or chatted of the gold they 
hoped to find, of the marvels they were about to 
j see in California, and, above all, of their joyous return to 
; their own country. 

I As to their messmates, they now saw that they had 
'judged them rather too hastily. The German banker 
proved to be a well-educated man, who hated both rude 
manners and silly jokes; the young gentleman had be- 
come quiet, and seemed sad ; the others were boisterous, 
indeed, but no one was obliged to listen to their senseless 
remarks. The strangest of their companions was the 
man who called himself a doctor of medicine. From 
morning to night he drank spirits. The few bottles of 
brandy which he privately possessed were soon emptied, 
but he had found a new way of procuring every day a 
supply of strong drink. He went over the decks and 


30 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


through the cabins, and used all sorts of stratagems to i 
persuade one or other of the passengers to give him their 
ration of gin. 

It was this doctor who had given Donatus Kwik a 
pint of salt water with cayenne pepper in it, as a remedy ' 
for sea-sickness. The peasant had given him the nick- ; 
name of Dr. Gin-nose. i 

Long and weary days followed each other. Many of j 
the passengers had lost their cheerfulness, they would | 
sit for hours on the deck doing nothing, busy only with 
their own thoughts. Many were tortured by remorse i 
for an ill-spent life ; others were bitterly repenting evil 
conduct and hasty resolutions. i 

On the sixteenth day of the voyage the passengers | 
were sitting at their mess-tahles. For the last forty- j’ 
eight hours the weather had been wet, and the sun 
hidden behind a thick curtain of fog, but now the sky ! 
began to brighten, and some one announced with joy J 
that the Peak of Teneriffe was to be seen, though the 
steersman said that it was still twenty-five miles distant. [| 
Our friends went on deck and gazed towards the hori- j 
zon, where the Canary Islands seemed to float on the * 
surface of the ocean at the foot of the gigantic peak, j 
whose summit, covered with eternal snow, pierces the ' 
clouds and seems to reach the heavens. 

While the two Antwerpers were admiring this magni* I 
ficent sight they heard a great noise behind them of j 
people fighting. They saw Donatus Kwik running out j 
of the cabin, pursued by three or four men, uttering | 
curses upon him, as they dealt him violent blows. One I 


The lioM^s deh. 


31 


of them was especially furious, striking Donatus on the 
head with his fist. He was a robust man, with long red 
moustaches and very little eyes. 

Kwik, though he called for help, defended himself 
vigorously, and rushing at his foes, kicked at their legs 
to the right and left, causing them to utter loud cries of 
pain. 

Victor ran to the poor fellow’s help, placing himself 
between him and his assailants. The Frenchman with 
the red moustaches dealt the young man a blow in the 
chest, when he asked him to listen to reason. Then 
Victor seized the Frenchman and threw him on the 
ground ; but as he clung on to him, both rolled down on 
the deck. Creps now ran up, pushing away two or three 
men who endeavoured to keep him hack. Donatus raved 
liked a madman, and soon the whole deck was in con- 
fusion. But the stern captain appeared ; he stopped the 
fray by an imperious gesture, and by the words, ‘‘Hands 
off.” 

Then began complaints from both sides. The French- 
man with the red moustaches said, “ It is impossible to 
eat at the same mess with the furious Fleming. 
Scarcely have we our spoons in our hands, than 
he swallows the meat and beans all burning hot, and 
when we ask him to leave something for the others 
he only laughs at us and eats faster than ever. And at 
the least remonstrance, too, he kicks at us like a mad- 
man. Look, captain, look at the marks on my legs ! ” 

And with this he hared his leg and showed the blood 
flowing down it. 


32 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


Donatus exclaimed that they had forced him to eat so 
quickly in order not to die of hunger ; that he would 
soon teach this Frenchman that a Fleming was not to 
he insulted with impunity. His threats were so noisy 
and violent that the captain put an end to the dispute 
with these words, — 

‘^Here, sailors ! Put this mad fellow into the lion’s 
den for three days.” 

This order struck Donatus with terror. Perhaps he 
thought that there really were lions in the hold of the 
ship : he gazed at the captain as if he had not rightly 
understood him ; but when he felt himself seized by the 
sailors he began to sob aloud, and fell on his knees before 
the captain with outstretched hands and eyes filled with 
tears. The two friends tried to obtain a reversal of this 
severe sentence. 

Eoozeman exclaimed that it would be a shameful in- 
justice; he tried to make the captain understand how 
from the first day the poor fellow had been bullied and 
tormented. Creps, on the other hand, made light of the 
whole affair, and asked for Donatus’s pardon in a polite 
and sensible manner ; making out that he was a stupid 
lout, and hardly responsible for his actions. 

Whether it was these words which took effect on his 
heart, or Kwik’s humble attitude, the captain was ap- 
peased, and said to the sailors, “ Let him go.” 

The peasant, seeing he was released, went up to 
Victor, took his hand, kissed it, and said with tears, 
“ Mr. Eoozeman, I thank you a thousand times for your 
kindness ; for you I would throw myself into the fire ! ” 


THE LIOHS DEN. 


33 


But the captain ordered him into the cabin, changed 
his mess, gave him Germans for mates, and said severely, 
as he left him, “Take care that I never hear of you 
again, or you’ll repent it.” 


( 34 ) 


CHAPTER VI. 

THE EQUATOR. 

IHE Jonas had now been five weeks at sea, and 
was rapidly approaching the Equator, where 

' the rays of the sun possess such burning power. 

The passengers began to get disgusted with the constant 
salt meat, all the other provisions being exhausted. 
There were poor fellows among them who would have 
gone round the deck on their knees for a cigar or a pipe 
of tobacco. The quart of water which was daily distri- 
buted to each was not enough for most of them, owing to 
the great heat and a diet of nothing hut salt food and dry 
biscuits. At last they arrived beneath the Equator. Here 
the Jonas was stopped by one of those long calms which 
seafaring men fear almost more than a violent tempest. 
The sea was smooth and glittering as a mirror ; not a 
breath of wind stirred its surface. The sun blazed 
like a globe of molten copper in the heavy leaden sky, 
scorching everything on which his rays fell, so that the 
decks had constantly to be watered with sea water to 
prevent the wood from cracking and the pitch from 
melting. The sails hung motionless from the masts, 
and the ship lay like a dead carcase in the midst of the 



THE EQUATOR. 35 

vast ocean, which appeared to all on board like a bound- 
less desert. 

The passengers crept about in despair ; stifled, breath- 
less, they had lost all courage under this terrific heat, 
and sought in vain, on the deck and in the hold, for 
some cool spot to rest in : but the atmosphere was equally 
burning and suffocating everywhere. The lack of water 
made their suffering still more painful. Many, tortured 
by dry throats and parched tongues, exhausted their 
rations before the sun’s rays fell directly on their heads, 
and passed the rest of the day struggling in misery 
against thirst. 

If they thus suffered on the first day of the calm, 
what would their condition be should they have to remain 
stationery for several weeks in the midst of this furnace 
and in so terrible an atmosphere ? 

On the second day there was no wind, and the heat 
appeared doubled. Fearing lest this prolonged calm 
might exhaust their stock of water, which must be made 
to last till they reached the shores of America, the cap- 
tain announced that the safety of all forced him to issue 
a cruel decree. Henceforth each passenger would only re- 
ceive a pint of water daily. This order was received with 
bitter murmurs, but the captain made them understand 
that this calm might last a month, and that the water 
must be spared to save all the passengers and crew 
from perishing. To convince them, he related how, 
on the very spot where the Jonas now lay, a Portu- 
guese ship had once been found, which was supposed to 
be abandoned. When she was boarded, nearly a hundred 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


36 

corpses were found in her. They learned from the log- 
book that the passengers had seized upon the stock of 
water by force, and used it recklessly. The entry was 
made six weeks before, and it was plain that those 
hundred men had all died of thirst — a horrible death, 
caused by their own folly. The captain added that 
he must take care to guard the Jonas from such a 
misfortune, and that he would shoot the first man who 
dared to touch a water-barrel. 

Victor Eoozeman bore his hardships with courage, but 
he thought more than ever of his dear ones at home. He 
remembered, too, the beautiful walks round Antwerp 
under the shady trees on the banks of the Scheldt, where 
the purest air was breathed, so different from this stifling 
furnace. His mind wandered away to his mother’s little 
garden, where, after his day’s work, he used to sit so 
quietly and contentedly till she called him in to supper. 
Jan did not say much ; he found their position extremely 
disagreeable, but then, they were not the first who had 
had to endure a similar fate. To-day or to-morrow, 
perhaps, the wind might rise, and then there would be 
an end to their misery. These thoughts, however, did 
not prevent Jan from frequently exclaiming that he 
would give five years of his life for a pail of cold water 
from his father’s pump. 

The most contented in appearance was Donatus Kwik. 
He carried his ration of water in a bottle hung round his 
neck by a string, and he used it so carefully that twice 
at the end of a day he had been able to refresh Victor 
and Jan by giving them a drink from his bottle. 


37 


THE EQUATOR, 

When questioned how he was able thus to resist the 
cravings of thirst, he explained it in a way which proved 
that he possessed great power of will. 

Donatus may he a fool, but when his life is at stake 
he becomes cunning as a fox. I will tell you how I 
manage it. In the morning I get my ration of water, 
don’t I ? You think I begin to drink it in a hurry like 
the others! No. I put the key of my trunk in my 
mouth, and keep biting it, which makes my stomach 
imagine it is drinking, till I can bear the thirst no longer, 
when I take in a very little water ; then I begin gnaw- 
ing the key again. I drink no gin, I don’t smoke. At 
dinner I eat no meat, for it is salt, and I take as little 
food as possible. Thus I am half hungry, half thirsty, 
but it is easier to bear the half of each evil than the 
whole of either.” 


( 38 ) 


CHAPTEE YIL 

THE SHARKS. 

AYS passed away, and still not a cloud was 
seen on the horizon ; the sun continued as 
scorching, and the air as sultry as ever. 

One morning many passengers remained in their 
berths, complaining that they had scarcely sufficient 
strength to move. 

The news rapidly spread throughout the ship that a 
disease had broken out between decks. Some said it 
was the cholera, others typhus, others yellow fever. All 
trembled and turned pale, for any one of those maladies 
was enough to kill off the whole crew in a very short 
time, and here were a hundred persons huddled toge- 
ther in close quarters beneath a burning sky ! 

The passengers were still shuddering from these terrible 
tidings when Donatus Kwik, who was leaning over the 
gunwale amusing himself by throwing things into the 
sea, uttered a loud cry, as if he had seen something 
very extraordinary. 

A whale ! two whales ! ’’ he exclaimed, running to- 
wards Eoozeman ; they have mouths as big as an oven, 
and teeth at least a hundred, which they grind and snap 



THE SHARKS. 


39 


together like a threshing machine! I threw them an 
old shoe just now : they swallowed it like an almond/' 

During so long and dreary a voyage the least incident 
is a distraction. All, therefore, whose attention had 
been aroused by Kwdk's exclamation hastened to the 
ship's side, and gazed into the sea, calm and transparent 
as glass. They saw, indeed, not two, but six or eight 
fish of extraordinary size. Whatever was thrown to 
them, wood, iron, or pieces of rope, these monsters 
jumped up for, hustling against each other, and 
swallowed in an instant. 

The doctor passed along, half- drunk, as usual. Glanc- 
ing into the water he said, laughing, — 

Ah ! ah 1 there are the mourners for the dead ! A 
bad sign, gentlemen : the epidemic will claim its victims. 
Those fish can smell, a hundred leagues off, that a man 
is going to die at sea, and they are gnashing their teeth 
and flapping their tails with joy because they expect a 
good meal here. Look well down their huge mouths, 
so that you may know the way, for it's a road many of 
you will have to take ere long. As for me, I am too 
much wanted here; those man-eaters wont have me 
yet." 

After this cruel mockery he went off. 

The horrible thought that the bodies of those who 
succumbed to the disease would be cast into the sea and 
devoured by these hungry sharks quenched the last 
spark of courage in the hearts of most of the passengers. 

Next morning the doctor was found dead in his cabin, 
with two empty bottles by his side. As so many 


40 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


passengers were ill the doctor had got hold of some 
twenty-five rations of gin, and his end w^as owing to 
his drinking so much of the fiery spirit. He had 
fallen a victim, to that demon Drink, to whom, like so 
many others both on shore and at sea, he had so blindly 
yielded himself up. 

When Donatus met his two friends he exclaimed, 
“Well! poor Dr. Gin-nose is dead ! I forgive him for 
the cayenne pepper he made me swallow. He didn’t 
think that the sharks had come for him I ” 

In so crowded a vessel, where an epidemic had already 
broken out, and in such an atmosphere, it was necessary 
that the remains of the doctor should be removed with 
the utmost haste. 

Suddenly the bell slowly tolled as for a funeral ; all 
the passengers who were not in bed were summoned on 
deck, and ranged on one side of the ship. Then four 
sailors came up with the body, walking slowly and 
solemnly towards the place where the passengers were 
standing. The poor doctor was sewn up in his blanket 
as in a sack, and a quantity of coal was put in to make 
it sink to the bottom. When the sailors had made 
every arrangement for committing the body to the deep, 
the captain took off his cap and began to repeat the 
customary prayers. The passengers also uncovered; 
most of them shuddered at the idea of the terrible 
scene about to take place, and which they in their 
turn might so shortly be obliged to take part in. 

The prayers were soon over. On a sign from the 
captain the sailors lowered the plank on which the body 


THE SHARKS. 


41 


rested to the surface of the sea, turned it over, and thus 
threw the corpse into the deep. Most of the spectators 
were looking over the side into the sea, but all drew 
back with a shriek of horror at the terrible sight of the 
hungry sharks disputing with each other for their prey. 

Before the day was over five more victims of the 
epidemic which raged between decks were cast into the 
sea. Terror filled all hearts ; some ran restlessly about 
the deck, as if seeking a refuge out of the pestilential 
circle in which they were imprisoned ; others wandered 
about like madmen. Many deplored that mad thirst for 
gold which had led them on this fatal voyage. 

Towards evening a terrible agony fell upon Victor. 
While he was sitting on a bench beside his friend and 
Kwik, talking sadly of happy Belgium, of beautiful 
Antwerp, and the dear ones they had left there, while 
Creps was still trying to inspire him with confidence 
and hope, Jan’s voice suddenly changed in an alarming 
manner. A death-like paleness came over his face, his 
eyes were glassy, and his limbs stiffened. These were 
all signs of the disease. Jan Creps, the kind-hearted 
fellow, the faithful friend, was about to die ; perhaps 
before the sun shone again the monsters of the deep 
would have devoured his remains ! 

Such a thought filled Eoozeman with despair; he 
addressed a thousand consoling words to his friend, 
words which he did not believe himself. Donatus 
holding one of his hands, tried to relieve his pain. 

Jan endeavoured to struggle against the malady, and 
make his friends think he was not so ill as he appeared 


42 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


to be ; but soon bis strength failed bim, and with a sigb 
be sank into bis friend’s arms, crying, — \ 

Water ! water ! water ! My life for a draught of | 
water ! Water alone can save me ! ” ;■ 

On hearing these words Victor jumped up and ran to | 
the captain, falling at his feet. He prayed, he offered a | 
handful of bank-notes, all that he possessed, for a pint | 
of water. But the captain remained as stern and silent | 
as if he did not even see the poor young fellow, who j 
was begging for the life of his friend. j 

Victor repeated his supplications to the mate, but 
with the same ill success. Then he rushed towards a 
water barrel, and laid his hands upon it. Three or four 
sailors threatened him with their knives, and as even 
the cold steel at his breast did not cause him to retire, 
they fell upon him flinging him back some distance off ' 
on to the deck. j 

Fearing now that there was no hope for his friend, 
poor Boozeman sank down in despair, when a sailor ; 
offered him half-a-pint of water in exchange for his i 
gol(i watch. Gladly did Victor sacrifice the treasured j 
’^resent of his mother to prolong his friend’s life — if 
only for an hour ! He ran to Crops and put the bottle 
to his lips, pouring the refreshing draught into his 
mouth. 

The sick man’s strength seemed soon to return ; he 
begged his friend to help him to his bed, as he felt 
exhausted and longed for rest. 

All night Victor was in a state of terrible anxiety. 
Seated with Donatus by his suffering friend’s bedside, 



Three or four sailors threatened him with their knives. 




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THE SHARKS. 


43 


he heard nothing but the melancholy cry, “Water! 
water! water!’’ without being able to do anything to 
satisfy it ; for he could not have obtained a drop of 
) water in exchange for a whole fortune. 

• There came, too, a terrible moment, when Jan in 
delirium no longer cried for water, but threw himself 
j about, howling like a madman, all his limbs writhing, 
so that it seemed as if he would die in a fit of convul- 
sions. Suddenly he started up, and said in a hollow 
voice, and with bitter irony, — 

, “ To California ! You will go to California ? Poor 

I madman! What are you going to seek there? Gold? 

I Isn’t there gold enough in your own country for him 
who will earn it by industry and intelligence ? Happi- 
jness ? Simpleton ! Happiness does not dwell so far off : 
iit is where our cradle lay ; in our father’s house, in our 
: mother’s eyes, amid our friends at home. The demon 
of gold has tempted you ; you longed to be rich without 
working for it ; to break the law which God has graven 
in our hearts. He will punish you! Instead of gold 
you will find misery, shame, death ! death, and a 
horrible tomb in the ocean’s depths ! ” 

Then he fell back in his bed, and was silent. 

Victor felt utterly crushed by these terrible words, 

: which were only the echo of his own thoughts. 

Kwik sat at the foot of the bed, and muttered, “ Ah, 
stupid animal that you are ! this will teach you to go 
to California ! You will be eaten by sharks ! You have 
richly deserved it ! ” 

Later on in the night the fever seemed to have 


44 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


left the sick man. He breathed more freely, and 
appeared to be slumbering. 

Donatus had fallen asleep, his head on his knees; in , 
his dreams he talked aloud of his native village., 
Eoozeman, who continued to watch, was much touched 
by the poor peasant’s words : — 

Ah, Blesken, my dear cow ! won’t you eat that | 
tender grass ? You are dainty, are you ? Perhaps you 
are thirsty ; it is so hot, isn’t it ? Come to the brook,; , 
there is pure water, clear as crystal, and so fresh ! So 
fresh, it is like velvet going down your throat. Bles, I 
Bles, there’s Anneken yonder; she is looking at us' 
with her little black eyes, making signs, and laughing. 
The fair comes next week, Bles. Anneken! dear 
Anneken ! next week, isn’t it ? Didn’t you hear, Bles, || 
with what a sweet voice she called to me, ‘Yes, Donatus, i 
next week ? ’ What happiness ! Bles, I shall go mad ; 
with joy ! ” i 


( 45 ) 


I 

! 


CHAPTER YIIL 

i 

I THE MUTINY. 

3 

HEN tlie sun rose next morning in a sky as cloud- 
less as ever, Jan still lived, but eight more 
corpses were found in the third-class cabins. 

; The loss of so many companions, the sight of those 
jhorrible funerals and of hungry sharks swimming round 
[ :the ship, filled the passengers with utter despair as well 
[ I as grim anger. Threats against the captain were heard 
1 1 between decks, and men might here and there be seen 
opening and sharpening their knives as if they were 
preparing for a death-struggle. 

The distribution of the daily ration of water calmed 
for a few moments the storm which raged in the pas- 
sengers’ breasts. But towards noon, when the sun had 
turned the deck of the Jonas into an unbearable 
furnace, they began to urge each other on to violent 
measures, exclaiming, “ Water, water, or death ! ” 
Neither Victor nor Donatus were present ; they were 
in their sick friend’s cabin. His delirium had now left 
him, and he listened to their consoling words with 
pleasure. 

The captain stood on the poop, anxiously watching all 



46 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


the movements of the passengers. When he saw that , 
matters were taking a serious turn he made signs to the | 
sailors, and giving each of them a six-barrelled revolver, :l 
he posted them round the spot where the water-barrels | 
stood. Then, holding his pistol in his hand, he called ( 
out in a loud voice to the passengers, “ Mad fellows that 
you are ! Do you wish the Jonas to share the fate of I 
the Portuguese ship ? You are crying out for water or I 
death. Water you shan’t have, hut death you shall, if 
you dare to approach two paces nearer to us.” i 

The passengers retreated, nevertheless they still * 
murmured and cast fierce looks at the captain, but the 
sight of the sailors with their revolvers and cutlasses, 
cooled their wrath, and made them hesitate. 

However, the most desperate fellows among them had , 
gathered round the bows, where they mutually excited 
each other, consulting as to how they could best attack 
the captain. There were three or four who had already 
drawn the handspikes from the capstan, and it seemed 
as if the deck of the Jonas must soon be the scene of a 
frightful massacre. 

At that moment a strange cry escaped from the lij)S 
of an old sailor. Trembling, he pointed with his finger 
over the wide ocean, and exclaimed, — 

Captain, look ! Look yonder to the south-west ! ” 
‘‘Don’t turn away your eyes from those mad fel- 
lows ! ” the captain said to his men, while he rapidly 
turned his telescope towards the horizon. Then utter- 
ing an exclamation of joy, he waved his hat in the air, 
and cried aloud, — 


THE MUTINY. 


47 


M “ Hurrah, Hurrah ! Deliverance! God sends us help : 
!! rain and wind I ” 

i At this announcement such a strange fierce smile 
passed over the faces of most of the passengers, that 
t. they looked as if smitten with some insanity : hut the 
r knives disappeared, the handspikes fell upon the deck; 
f ; they wept, danced, embraced the sailors, who had now 
q approached them, and pointed out to them a little black 
j cloud which had risen on the horizon, and which was 
t rapidly increasing in size. At the certainty of this 
i unhoped-for deliverance, many of them threw themselves 
I on their knees, and raised their hands in gratitude to 
i the good God Who had not been unmindful of them in 
I their sore trouble, and was now about to send them that 
i gracious rain and cool breeze for which they had all 
) so earnestly longed during the last few terrible days. 

' The good news quickly spread to the remotest parts 
of the ship. Even the sick were roused to new life, and 
I implored the aid of their friends to be led up on deck. 
It would rain, they said. To be wet, to feel the fresh 
water from above stream down upon their limbs, to 
jbreathe a moist air, oh, what joy ! what happiness ! 

Jan was carried on to the deck by Victor and Donatus. 
Tears of hope and joy ran down his cheeks as he fixed 
I his eyes upon the black cloud which, like a messenger 
from the Lord, was about to bring to these poor faint 
[creatures, relief and health. 

With eager eyes did the passengers still scan the 
jhorizon. Their hearts were beating, their nerves quiver- 
ling; they had forgotten everything, even their thirst. 


48 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


as they gazed at the horizon. At first they could only 
see a little black cloud, but now this appeared to he 
drawing into its bosom all the mists of the air, and now , 
it had grown so large that, like a dark wall, it covered : 
the whole of the southern sky. 

The captain gave orders tkat every preparation skould i 
be made for collecting the rain water. All disposable 
sails were stretched upon the deck, barrels, pails, and 
basins, were placed at corners where the water was 
likely to flow. 

Scarcely were these preparations finished before the 
whole heavens were obscured as by a dense black ^ 
pall. Then the lightning flashed, the thunder rolled ' 
and rattled, the flood-gates of heaven were opened, and 
torrents of water fell splashing down upon the Jonas's | 
deck. 

What joy ! How the poor passengers could drink 
now, wash themselves, and feel the cool water like a ' 
healing balm drip over their parched bodies ! 

Jan, poor sick, exhausted Jan, now embraced his two ^ 
friends, exclaiming, ‘‘ God be praised ! I feel revived ! I 
I shall not die The storm lasted for two hours. The 
thunder rolled terribly. Constant flashes of lightning | 
wrapped the Jonas in a dazzling mass of fire; the con- , 
tending winds made the ship reel and shiver, almost 
threatening to sink her ; but all this was nothing now. 
that they had water, and felt a cool moist air once more 
in their lungs. The most timid laughed and clapped 
his hands in the midst of the storm. When at last the 
tempest abated, the wind still continued to blow steadily/ 


THE MUTINY. 


49 


and, fortunately, in a direction favourable to the voyage 
of the gold-seekers. 

The captain ordered every inch of canvas to be 
spread, and the Jonas now darted forward amid the 
sound of the joyful hurrahs of all her passengers. 


D 


( 50 ) 


CHAPTER IX. 

THE ARRIVAL. 

ship, as if desirous to make up for lost time, 
iled so quickly that in a few days it came 
sight of Brazil. The sick passengers reco- 
vered rapidly ; the sufferings they had endured wore 
forgotten. Already they began to sigh again for the 
gold of California. They talked gaily of the mines, 
of the treasures which they would amass there, and of j 
all that they would do on their return to their native 
land. 

Creps, though still weak, was quite convalescent. 
Doubtless he was ignorant of the severe judgment 
which, during his delirium, he had pronounced against 
the voyage, for his renewed life had doubled his courage, 
and he looked with unlimited confidence upon the future 
which was opening out before him. His friend Rooze- 
man shared these feelings, and he already imagined 
himself in the mines, finding gold nuggets in abundance ; 
or returned to his native land, and standing beside 
Lucia at the altar, hearing the voice of the clergyman 
pronounce, Be united in the name of the Lord,” 



THE ARRIVAL, 


51 


Donatus Kwik spent hours walking on the deck in 
company with the two friends, amusing them by his 
funny remarks and odd manner. At other times he 
lounged between decks chattering with everybody, in a 
jargon of French, English, and German, of which only 
a word here and there could be understood. 

The Jonas had another severe trial to undergo, and 
death once more stood between her passengers and the 
promised land of gold. This time so threatening was 
the danger, that all on board fell on their knees, and, 
with hands stretched out to Heaven, implored God's 
help and mercy. When rounding Cape Horn, they 
were assailed by long and terrific storms ; and one night 
they perceived through the darkness that they were 
surrounded by immense icebergs, and the sailors them- 
i selves, giving up all hopes of safety in the ship, wished to 
I lower the boats and abandon her at this dreadful crisis. 

I But the Lord had pity on these poor terrified creatures, 
j and the captain, by his coolness, was able with marvel- 
I lous skill to avoid the icebergs ; thus the gold-seekers 
' again escaped from the tomb which yawned before them, 

I At last they reached the Pacific Ocean, between Valpa- 
j raiso and Tahiti. 

Nearly five months had elapsed since the day they 
I left Antwerp ; another forty days of fair weather and 
they would set foot on the shore of the wonderful land, 
the one object of their desires, and the reward of all the 
hardships they had suffered. All hearts beat with 
i excitement, all eyes glistened with hope and impatience. 

■ During this latter part of the voyage only one incident 


52 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


disturbed tlie peace which reigned on hoard the Jonas. 
Very early one morning Donatus Kwik ran upon deck 
crying for help. To those who inquired what was the i 
matter he replied, — ! 

The captain ! quick ! quick ! my money has been 
stolen ! Cheat ! rogue ! I am robbed ! Oh ! my poor 
money, my poor money ! ’’ 

"When the captain understood what had made Donatus 
so desperate, he took up the matter very seriously. 
According to the peasant's story, some one had, during 
the night, broken the lock of his travelling bag, and 
stolen from it four English bank-notes. 

All the third-class passengers were summoned on 
deck and minutely searched by the sailors. Then all 
their boxes and trunks were opened and examined, but 
no trace was found of the missing bank-notes. 

Poor Kwik cried like a child, tore his hair, and filled 
the air with his complaints. His friends, Creps and : 
Eoozeman, tried to comfort him with the assurance.' 
that he would find his notes at last; and when this ■ 
seemed to have no effect upon him, they told him that, ; 
once in California, he would not need any money, nor -1 
know what to do with it; for immediately on their j 
arrival the agents of the Company would provide them ti 
with good food, comfortable lodgings, and, in fact, all^ 
that they required. 4 

It was, nevertheless, quite impossible to rouse Kwik) 
from his state of dejection. Eoozeman, whom oldj 
Captain Moreels had not allowed to start without somejj 
money, took a bank-note from his pocket-book and*' 

I 


THE ARRIVAL. 


53 


offered it to the poor fellow. Donatus gratefully accepted 
the gift, and appeared a little consoled by it ; neverthe- 
less, from that day forward ho led a doleful life on 
board the ship. Whenever he was down below or on 
deck he played the part of spy on everybody ; he slunk 
off to listen to the most private conversations ; followed 
all the movements of the passengers’ hands, and it was 
plain that he never looked at any one without the 
thought in his mind that the thief might be before him. 
The passengers, irritated by this suspicion, ill-treated 
him, pushing him out of their way ; he defended himself 
by kicks to the right and left, hut the odds were so great 
against him, that he scarcely ever appeared on deck 
without a black eye or a bruised nose. It was the 
Frenchman with the red moustaches who persecuted 
him the most. Donatus had taken it into his head 
that his first enemy on board the ship was also the 
robber of his hag, and the Frenchman could read this 
I suspicion in his eyes. One day, after he had struck 
the poor fellow in the face, Victor ran up to defend his 
fellow-countryman ; Crops had also intervened, so a 
violent struggle took place on the deck. 

The captain, after hearing explanations from both 
sides, ordered the Frenchman to prison for two days. 
Henceforth the red moustache cherished a furious hatred 
against Kwik, and incited his companions to plague and 
annoy him in every possible way. 

' The winds were still favourable to the Jonas. At 
I last, when the captain announced that they were close 


54 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


to the Gulf of San Francisco, a fever of excitement took 
possession of all the passengers. 

One cloudy afternoon our two friends were sitting with 
Donatus Kwik in the second-class cabin, talking, as 
usual, about the approaching termination of their long 
journey, and their landing in the gold country, and the 
grand and generous projects they would carry out when 
they once more returned to their native land. Suddenly 
their conversation was interrupted by a joyful hurrah 
which burst from the deck. They hastened up. There 
they heard the triumphant cry of, — 

“Land! Land! California! San Francisco ! Hurrah !’' 

The fog had dispersed, and the shores of California 
lay revealed to their astonished gaze — the two sides of a 
strait, which they were told was the “ Golden Gate,’’ 
or the entrance to the Bay of San Francisco. To the 
north and south they beheld an immense chain of moun- 
tains, extending far away to the misty horizon. In 
the foreground the Monte Diavolo raised its summit, 
crowned with gigantic cedars. 

As, mute with delight, they were gazing at the light- 
house which marked the end of their voyage, the Jonas 
reached the Golden Gate and entered the Bay of San 
Francisco, studded with numerous islands, and large 
enough to contain all the fleets of the world. They 
cast anchor amid hundreds of vessels of all sizes and of 
all nations, and the passengers, almost weeping for joy 
and full of enthusiasm, rushed in crowds to that side 
of the ship which was nearest the shore. 


( 55 ) 


CHAPTER X. 

SAN FRANCISCO. 

EVERAL boats came and went, from the Jonas 
to the shore, to land the passengers. 

Sixty of them were actually on the quay, 
with their boxes and trunks, waiting for the directors or 
agents of the Californian Company, whom they expected 
to remove their luggage, and take them to the huts or 
wooden houses which had been prepared for the recep- 
tion of the shareholders. 

All this time our two friends and Kwik were staring 
at the strange-looking people standing by or passing 
near them. It was not the Mexicans with their brilliant 
costumes who most attracted their attention, nor the 
Chinese with their long coats and pigtails, nor the 
mulattoes with their broad chestnut- coloured faces, nor 
even the half-savage natives of California. What was 
most strange to them was the appearance of the Euro- 
peans, who, probably, like themselves, had left their 
native land in search of gold. Most of these were dirty 
and ragged, with hair and beard neglected, and in dis- 
order. But however miserable might be their dress, 
all carried a revolver or a long knife in their belts, and 



56 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


walked witli head erect, casting proud looks to the right 
and left. Persons might be seen, too, rambling about, 
whose dress and manner bespoke an easy position and a 
distinguished education, yet who seemed on a footing of 
perfect equality with those whose faces wore the impress of 
vice and wretchedness. They saw men whom we should 
take for beggars or thieves shake hands with one who had 
the air of a nobleman, or brutally push away, pistol in hand, 
those who had merely touched them as they passed. 

‘‘ What a repulsive look all those people have ! ’’ 
sighed Poozeman. ‘‘I should never have taken them 
for anything better than a hand of brigands. How dirty 
and savage they are ! ” 

**My head feels quite giddy,’^ said Kwik. ‘^Here, 
they say, one has nothing to do to get gold but to pick it 
up ; it seems to me it would he better for those men to 
pick up new trousers and new shoes. I begin to fear we 
shall have to repent of our voyage. Oh ! if I only had 
my five hundred francs ! 

‘‘You look at everything on the dark side,” said Jan, 
laughing; “it stands to reason that all who come to 
California do not become rich at once. These people arc 
probably travellers just arrived, like ourselves. They 
have not had time or opportunity yet to go to the gold 
mines ; not being, as we are, shareholders of a Company 
which provides for their maintenance, they suffer no 
little misery and distress. Observe, nevertheless, how the 
hope or certainty of soon becoming rich swells their 
hearts and makes them proud. This is the fulfilment of 
that dream which the noblest hearts in Europe so ardently 


SAN FRANCISCO. 


57 


desire — fraternity and equality among all men and all 
nations, without any distinction of blood or rank.” 

^‘Yes, but fraternity with all those pistols and long 
knives inspires me with very little confidence,” replied 
Donatus. ‘‘If those fellows wdth their tangled beards 
who stare at us so strangely are my brethren — well, I 
should prefer not to meet any of those members of my 
family, alone, in a wood ! ” 

“You don’t understand,” answered Jan; “the arms 
in those men’s belts are signs of liberty and independence. 
Have you not heard that in the United States of America 
no one goes about without a revolver ? But that is a 
powerful and civilised nation, which gives the best ex- 
ample of liberty and independence to the whole world. 

You will experience it ” 

i Just then a tolerably well-dressed gentleman, with a 
proud and noble countenance, approached Creps, and 
offered to carry their baggage to the town. The Flemings 
gazed at him with wonder, and Jan answered in English 
that they did not at the moment require his services, as 
they were expecting people from the town to take charge of 
j their luggage. Roozeman asked him very politely, how 
I it was that such a gentleman as he appeared to be, was 
j obliged to resort to such hard work as that to earn a few 
shillings. 

“A few shillings 1” repeated the other, smiling. “It 
isn’t such a bad employment as you think. I earn eight 
i and sometimes twelve dollars a- day by it.” 

“What does he say?” cried Kwik, who during the 
voyage had picked up a little English. “Twelve dollars ! 


58 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


sixty francs a day ! Oh, what a charming country I One 
docs not require much wit to carry baggage. Now I 
fear nothing. At Natten-Haesdonck I had to work like 
a horse, and I scarcely earned two dollars a-month, with 
my board and lodging.’* 

And he laughed and clapped his hands, as if the cer- 
tainty of escaping such misery had made him mad with joy. 

The Englishman, who thought he was making fun of 
him, put his hand to his knife, and cast a threatening 
look at the amazed Donatus, as he turned away. 

«A very touchy brother that,” murmured the fright- 
ened Kwik between his teeth. ‘^A little more and he 
would have stuck me like a pig. Say what you like> 
gentlemen, all these fellows here resemble a band of 
brigands, who are trying to pick a quarrel with you in 
order to rob or murder you.” 

Thus saying, he took up his bag, pressing it tightly to 
him, as if he feared lest it should be stolen. 

‘‘Since you lost your bank-notes you see robbers 
everywhere,” said Jan. “That gentleman did not under- 
stand you, he thought you were laughing at him : no 
wonder that he was annoyed.” 

He was interrupted by a great noise and by the com- 
plaints of the passengers, who, like himself, were waiting 
beside their luggage. They had been informed that 
neither directors nor agents of the California Company 
had yet arrived at San Francisco. The Jonas was the 
second of the Company’s vessels which had appeared in 
the bay, and, doubtless, the ship containing the directors 
and instruments of labour had been detained by contrary 


SAN FRANCISCO. 


59 


winds. Next day it would probably be sighted. Besides 
this, no one knew anything about the “ California Com- 
pany,’’ and all that the passengers could do now was to 
act upon the American proverb, ” Help yourself.” 

Night was coming on ; they must therefore seek a 
lodging, or, at all events, some shelter. 

Two men ran up together to carry Victor’s trunk, 
which was rather large. Both had their hands on it; 
one pushed the other away violently, and with coarse 
language. One drew his knife and threatened to stab 
the other, but he jumped on him like a furious tiger, tore 
away his knife from him, throwing it a long distance off, 
and then struck him on the face with such force that the 
blood streamed from his nose and mouth, and, revolver in 
hand, he vowed that he would blow out his brains if he 
came a step nearer. 

“ Odd sort of brothers ! ” murmured Donatus, pale 
with fright. 

“ He is a tiresome fellow,” said the victor in French, 
as he put the box on his shoulder ; “ one of these days I 
shall be obliged to put a ball in his head. Where do you 
gentlemen wish to go ?” 

‘‘But, I say, where is my trunk?” cried Creps sud- 
denly ; “ it was here beside me just now.” 

“Ah ! you speak Flemish, do you ?” asked the porter. 
“From your accent you are from Antwerp. I am a 
Brusseller.” 

“But my trunk! my trunk!” repeated Creps, anxi- 
ously ; “where can it be 

“ Probably it is stolen,” replied the Brusseller. 


6o 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


“What am I to do, then 

“Nothing. You’ll never hear of it again.” 

“ Run to the burgomaster ! to the police ! ” cried 
Donatus. 

“There are no police here,” observed the Brusseller. 
“ Every one is free to do what ho likes here. All the 
worse for those who are not strong enough or cunning 
enough.” 

“And if the mad fellow just now had stabbed you 
with his knife, would there have been no justice to 
avenge the murder?” 

“ None. Justice would have plenty to do if it existed 
here. At the least word, blood flows between the best 
friends: the thirst for gold makes the heart cruel and 
pitiless. I was a mild, gentle fellow, when I came to 
California, but seven months’ work in the mines here 
have taught me that a sheep, in order to live among 
wolves, must become a wolf himself. In Belgium I did 
not like to shoot a rabbit ; now I should kill ten men with 
my revolver without being more moved than when I 
brush off the gnats which are trying to sting me.” 

Victor and Donatus shuddered when they heard these 
words. Jan went some distance off, looking every- 
where for some trace of his trunk. 

“ Useless trouble, comrade,” said the Brusseller. 
“ You won’t see it again. Make haste, or you will 
have to pay me double, for you make me waste my time. 
I can earn four dollars more before night.” 

“ So you say,” said Creps, “that no justice exists in 
the country ? ” 


SAN FRANCISCO. 


6i 


“ That is to say,” replied the porter, “ no one 
meddles with fights or murders ; hut if a thief is taken 
in the act, those who are present — you or I, for 
example — sometimes take him and hang him on the 
nearest tree, without any trial or sentence. This is 
what is called Lynch law here. You will soon become 
acquainted with this strange sort of justice. But walk 
a little quicker, please ; and take care of the mud, of 
which there is always plenty in San Francisco after 
rain.” 

‘^Well, plainly enough, all my lamentations won’t 
bring mo back my trunk ! ” sighed Crops. “ It’s a 
good thing that I put my bank-notes in my pocket.” 

‘‘Don’t talk in that way for people to hear you,” 
said the Brusseller. 

“Why not?” 

“ Don’t you understand ? If I, for example, was 
desirous to possess your bank-notes, what is to prevent 
me from stabbing you to the heart with my knife, and 
then taking your bank-notes ? ” 

*‘ You 1 ” cried the three friends at once. 

“ Well, I am not so far gone as that, thank God ! I 
am only giving you good advice. But you have not 
told me yet where you mean to pass the night. There 
are hotels of all prices. To sleep one night beneath a 
1 oof one pays ten, five, three or two dollars a-head : 
even for one dollar you can sleep on the ground under a 
sail. Well, which will you choose ? ” 

“ Five francs to sleep on the ground under a sail ! ” 
exclaimed the Flemings. 


62 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


‘‘Are you rich ? Have you much money ? ’’ inquired 
the Brusseller. 

“ Much money ? Ho, certainly not ! But enough to 
sleep for one night in a tolerable bed.’’ 

Very well ; I see you are inclined to follow my 
advice. The best thing you can do is to give three 
dollars a-head. The inns are all very full at San 
Francisco, but I know one rather out of the way, 
where four or five beds are to be had.” 

On the way Kwik said to their porter, — 

Tell me, comrade : you have, you say, been some 
months in the mines ; have you found much gold ? ” 

“ Oh, yes, a great deal.” 

“ How is it, then, that you carry luggage like some 
poor unfortunate fellow, instead of living on your 
income ? ” 

“ Because I have no longer any gold.” 

‘‘You have been robbed ? ” 

“Ho.” 

“You have lost it ? ” 

“ Yes: lost it gambling. I was too eager ; I wished 
to double my treasures, and fortune took all from me. 
I must soon return to the mines, and then I shall be 
wiser. Here is your hotel, gentlemen. Open your 
purse : two dollars for my trouble.” 

“ What ! ” cried Jan, amazed. “ Ten francs for 
carrying this trunk some three hundred yards? You 
are joking, surely ? ” 

“ Two dollars, I tell you ! ” 

“ And if I refuse to be thus imposed upon ? ” 


SAN FRANCISCO. 63 

‘‘ I shall force you to pay me, even if I resort to 
my knife.’’ 

I laugh at your knife ! ” cried Jan. 

‘‘You are wrong, comrade; if you were not my 
; fellow-countryman you would repent those rash words. 
Come, no dangerous quarrelling. Two dollars ! ” 

Eoozeman, who feared that his companion would pick 
a serious quarrel with this ferocious person, did not 
hesitate to pay him the price he demanded. 

“Let this teach you to bargain beforehand for the 
price of everything,” said the Brusseller, very seriously, 

, as they entered the hotel ; and added, “ Good evening, 

: gentlemen ; if you want me, you will find me on the 
! quay. For a dollar an hour I am at your service.” 

The hotel servants took the trunk, and led the 
[travellers to a wide room upstairs, where there were 
; four beds. 

I “ Will you sup, gentlemen ? ” asked a waiter. 

Notwithstanding their amazement at all they had seen 
and heard, our friends determined to have a good 
I supper, and even to indulge in a bottle of wine, that 
they might forget the everlasting salt meat of the ship. 
They were served immediately they entered the dining- 
room. The table was a very long one; at one end were 
I four or five people playing at draughts. Two others 
I were seated near the Flemings, and were talking in 
French about the gold mines, and of the varied success 
they had experienced during the past season. 

Donatus Kwik, on entering the room, had observed 
something which filled him with joyful surprise. Even 


64 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


when his plate of smoking roast beef was placed before 
him he did not turn away his eyes from the other end of 
the table, where he saw gold — real Californian gold. 
Hitherto, with his natural mistrust, he had feared that 
he and all his companions on board the Jonas had been 
made the victims of a clever and well-planned fraud. 
Now he could believe in the gold, for it sparkled before 
his eyes. He followed the movements of the gamblers 
at the other end of the table ; saw how, amid passionate 
expressions, they weighed out the gold powder in some 
small scales, arranging it in little heaps of an ounce 
each. 

He was somewhat alarmed to perceive on the table 
beside these heaps of gold several revolvers and knives. 
Still the fortune he had dreamed of was a reality and 
not a delusion. This conviction filled his heart with 
courage and confidence ; moreover, the men, who handled 
the gold as if it were a substance without any value, 
did not look any richer than the beggars they had seen 
on the quay, for they were quite as dirty and ragged. 
The bold air and rude pride of these fellows was now 
explained to him : in tatters as they were, they had 
their pockets full of gold ; that was why they were so 
independent, and demanded ten francs for carrying a 
trunk about a hundred yards. 

Hoozeman and Creps also glanced eagerly now and 
then at the gamblers and at the glittering gold before 
them. But they ate and drank with a good appetite, 
chatting gaily of their future journey to the mines, 
and of the wealth they would bring back on their 


SAN FRANCISCO. 


65 

triumphant return to Belgium, but especially of* what 
they would next day write to their relations and friends, 
announcing their arrival in the gold country. They 
would not say much about the sufferings they had 
endured, nor about the savage life of the inhabitants of 
San Francisco, for they did not wish to alarm them ; on 
the contrary, in order to cheer their friends, they would 
paint everything in the brightest colours. 

At this moment a great noise arose at the other end 
of the table — two gamblers had got up a quarrel. They 
struck their fists on the table, and threatened each 
other with menacing fury. Suddenly, one of them put 
the disputed heap of gold into his pocket ; but the other, 
roaring like a lion, sprang upon him, threw him down 
on his back, and, with one knee upon his chest, cried 
that he would strangle him if he did not give up the 
gold. 

Give it up ! give it up ! he cried. 

The quarrel continued, and as the only answer he 
received was a coarse insult, he seized a long knife from 
the table, and with horrible threats held it at the breast 
of his prostrate foe. Pale with terror in the prospect of 
a murder, the Flemings had sprung up. Kwik, when he 
saw the point of the knife at the bosom of the unhappy 
gambler, was seized with compassion ; a cry escaped him, 
and he hastened to the help of the victim. His hand 
was already on the would-be murderer, when two or three 
of those present, seized him and threw him back with 
such violence, that he reeled from one end of the room to 
the other, falling at last at the feet of his friends. 

E 


66 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


The two Antwerpers, indignant at such cruelty, ad- 
vanced towards the gamblers, as if to call them to account 
for their conduct ; but at the sight of a couple of revolvers 
and three daggers directed towards them, they stopped in 
terror, and one of the strangers said to them in good 
English, — 

“ Sit still, gentlemen ; respect the law of California. 
What goes on here does not concern you ; it is our busi- 
ness.” 

The man on the ground, seeing that he must yield to 
the superior strength of his adversary, promised to give 
up the gold. AVhen he had placed it on the table, with 
a gloomy air he wished his comrades Good evening,” put 
his dagger into his belt, and was about to leave the house, 
when an insult, addressed to him in the form of a farewell, 
made him retrace his steps. He aimed a violent thrust 
with his knife at his foe ; two pistol-shots sounded, and 
two balls pierced the door of the room. But the fugitive 
had disappeared, and those who had pursued him re- 
turned, grumbling at their want of success. 

The waiters, hearing the pistol-shots, had entered the 
room. They at once attended to the wounded man. 
He had a terrible gash across the left arm. He howled 
and stamped with fury whilst his wound was being 
dressed; swore that that very evening he would find 
out the cowardly assassin, and lodge a ball in his head. 
Then he paid his bill, and hastened out with his com- 
panions. 

The Flemings looked at each other with horror and 
amazement. 


SAN FRANCISCO. 


67 

‘‘ It is nothing, gentlemen ! ’’ said one of the waiters. 

Does this astonish you ! You only arrived in San 
Franciso this afternoon, I think ? Sit down ; shall I 
fetch you another bottle of wine ?” 

But the friends were too shocked to stay any longer in 
the room, and resolved to go to bed at once. 

The waiter showed them to the door of their room, 
handed them a candle, and wished them “ Good night.’’ 

Kwik went in first ; hut scarcely had he glanced round 
than he retreated with a suppressed cry, pointing out to 
his companions something which terrified him. 

Upon one of the four beds a huge man was stretched. 
\ Hi's face was almost entirely covered by a disordered 
heard ; his clothes were coarse and in rags ; they saw 
the end of a revolver under his pillow, and in his sleep 
he put his hand to a long knife which he had in his 
belt. 

The Antwerpers laughed at Kwik’s fear, trying to con- 
vince him that this person Was, like themselves, a guest 
of the house. 

“ Speak low, Mr. Crops ! ” whispered Donatus. “ Per- 
haps you are right ; still it may be dangerous to awake 
that ugly giant. Oh, what a country ! Three dollars to 
have one^s throat cut in a brigand’s den ! Oh ! that I 
was only in our hay-loft at Hatten'*Haesdonck ! ” 

The others agreed that it would be best not to awake 
the stranger, so they spoke in a whisper. 

Suddenly an angry expression was heard, and a hollow 
voice exclaimed in English, Be quiet there ! Put out 
1 the candle ! ” 


68 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


Trembling with fright, Kwik extinguished the candle, 
and stammered, — 

‘‘ Oh ! get into your beds, and talk no more ! ” 

Victor and Jan took his advice. Creps was soon 
asleep ; Eoozeman was alarmed and out of heart at this 
savage life, at the rudeness and coarseness of the people 
here, and he remained awake a long time thinking of 
the events of the evening. As to Donatus, he dreamed 
all night of assassins with long tangled beards, huge 
knives, and six-barrelled revolvers. 




( 69 ) 


CHAPTEE XL 

THE LETTER. 

WIK was the first to awake in the morning, but 
he had scarcely opened his eyes when an anxi- 
ous sigh escaped him, and he put his head back 
under the blanket as if he had seen a phantom. 

The bearded man was standing in the middle of the 
room, his piercing glance fixed upon the poor fellow, just 
as he awoke from his heavy slumbers. Trembling with 
fright, Donatus secretly grasped Creps’ hand, who was 
snoring besides him, and shook it so that Jan began to rub 
his eyes and grumble, while he gazed with amazement at 
the stranger, who was washing his hands, and who said in 
English, smiling, — 

Good morning, gentlemen ; have you slept well 
Tolerably, thank you, sir,’^ replied Jan. 

‘‘You must be terribly tired,” replied the man, as 
he continued to wash himself and comb his thick 
beard. “I thought that you were probably strolling 
players.” 

Donatus, who had now raised his head, stared at the 
man with mistrust and amazement. 

“ Strolling players ! ” exclaimed Creps, who had got 



70 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


out of bed : we are gold-seekers, like most of the popu- 
lation of San Francisco.’’ 

You see, gentlemen, that young fellow there, who 
seems to be afraid of me, has been talking, singing, cry- 
ing, flinging his arms about all night, like a comedian 
learning a part. I jumped out of bed and ran to his aid, 
for I thought one of you must be killing him.” 

Jan burst out laughing, and told the stranger the scene 
they had witnessed the previous evening. 

“You are new-comers here,” said the other; “so I 
can well understand that you are afraid at the sight of 
blood, but that won’t last. While waiting here, I advise 
you to talk as little as possible with strangers, to be short 
in your words and careful in your actions, neither medd- 
ling with, nor ofiering assistance to, anybody.” 

While they were dressing, Jan continued his friendly 
talk with the big man. He was by no means so repul- 
sive in countenance, nor so ragged as the Flemings had 
taken him to be, by candle-light. On the contrary, he 
appeared to be an honest and well-educated young man. 
He turned to J an, and remarked, — 

“ The sky is blue, it will be flne to day. It is Sunday, 
too.” 

“ Sunday ! ah, so it is ! ” exclaimed Donatus. “ I 
should like to go to Church and say my prayers : we 
have many reasons for thanking God, and many for ask- 
ing His protection. Mr. Creps, ask that gentleman 
where the Church is.” 

Shrugging his shoulders, the stranger replied with a 
bitter smile: “In California there is no other God thau^ 


THE LETTER. 


71 


tlie god of gold; his temples are the gambling-houses 
that you will probably see — there is no religion here but 
the worship of self and thirst for gain.” 

With these words he lighted a cigar, then he offered 
his case to our friends and insisted on their each taking 
one ; after which, wishing them ^'Good day,” he left the 
room. 

They all agreed that their first impression about this 
gentleman had been quite wrong, and that he was by no 
means so formidable as Donatus, especially, had thought. 

As this was the day they had fixed for writing letters, 
they asked the waiter, after breakfast, for paper and ink, 
and then retiring to their room set to work. There was 
no table. Eoozeman and Creps had to stand and write 
against the wall. Kwik sat on the ground before Victor’s 
trunk, on which he placed his paper. 

Creps had finished first. After waiting some time, and 
amusing himself by watching Kwik, he said to Eooze- 
man, — 

‘‘Come, Victor, make haste and finish: it is quite 
possible to write a volume about our voyage, but in that 
case it would take you till to-morrow morning.” 

“ I have done,” said Victor ; “ but I have had a trou- 
ble to arrange my words so that my mother should not 
discover all the misery we have had to endure.” 

When Donatus had at last finished his letter, he ap- 
proached the two friends, holding his paper in his hands, 
and exclaimed in a triumphant tone : “ When Anneken’s 
father receives this he will believe that I must already 
be terribly rich, to dare to write thus to him.” 


72 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


^‘Let me see/’ said Jan, taking the letter. ^‘It is 
rather long.” 

So it ought to he ; I have been toiling at it for a 
quarter of a day.” 

Crops tried to decipher the letter, and read aloud, — 

‘‘Estimable Father of Anneken, — This is to ac- 
quaint you that I have arrived in California, happy and 
in good health, and hope this finds you the same. In a 
few days I go to the gold well, to draw out a corn-sack 
full of it ; and if you will keep your Anneken for me till 
my return I wiU make you as rich as the Scheldt is deep at 
Natten-Haesdonck. You know that Anneken does not 
hate me, and that, poor child, she has been half-distracted 
since you showed me the door. You have not a grain of 
compassion for your daughter or for the unfortunate 
Donatus ; hut if you dare to give Anneken to another 
whilst I am in the gold country, I will have you turned 
out of your post as garde -champetre, and to your great 
grief you will see me married to the young lady of the 
castle, that you might have lived in yourself, had you 
wished. You have your choice now; consider it well. 
Give my compliments to all friends. 

“ I have the honour to be 

“Donates Kwik, 

“ Gold- seeker in a great hotel in San Francisco, California.” 


All laughed heartily at this threatening letter, and 
Eoozeman tried to persuade the peasant that it would be 
better to soften the terms a little. Donatus would not 


THE LETTER. 


73 


change a word, and his reason was that the garde-cham- 
2 )etre* was an obstinate man, from whom nothing could 
ever be obtained by gentleness. 

While Jan and Victor were addressing their letters, 
Kwik exclaimed, — 

^^Oh, gentlemen, I have something on my mind ! I am 
eating and sleeping here without troubling myself who is 
to pay. Everything here costs enough to ruin a man. 
Ten francs to carry a box for five minutes ! Perhaps they 
will ask us a hundred francs for those hard morsels of 
cow-fiesh they served us yesterday, under all sorts of odd 
names.*’ 

‘‘Do not be unhappy about that; we will pay for 
everything.” 

“ You are very kind, and I thank you ; but I am not 
a leech. This afternoon I shall look out for another inn, 
and if I have to sleep under a sail, I must do so. It 
seems that economy is more necessary in this gold country 
than in Belgium ; and I think— excuse me for saying so — 
you’d do best too, gentlemen, to seek more modest quar- 
ters. If you don’t, you too may be obliged to carry 
travellers’ trunks on your heads.” 

The Antwerpers acknowledged that Donatus was right, 
so they called the waiter and asked for their bill. In a 
few minutes it was handed to Crops ; it was no less than 
140 francs for beds and supper, but Victor and Jan were 
each able to pay the sum demanded, and they even 
resolved to stay another night at the hotel, ruinous as it 
was. They had 1,300 francs in bank-notes still left. 

* Country Policeman. 


74 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


They had slept very badly last night, still they were now 
in a house where the people were honest and civil. It 
might be very different elsewhere. Donatus should 
remain with them till the morrow, when they must seri- 
ously consider what course to pursue until the arrival of 
the directors of the ‘‘Californian Company.” 


( 75 ) 


CHAPTEE XII. 


THE GAMBLING-HOUSE. 



HE three Flemings roamed about all next day 
through the streets of San Francisco, gazing 
into the shops and stores, and wondering at the 
motley crowd of strange figures in the midst of whom 
they were living. Although at that period more than 
50,000 men from all nations of the earth elbowed each 
other there, San Francisco only consisted of one -storeyed 
wooden houses, together with a few tents and canvas 
sheds, which extended, like suburbs, into the country. 

In the evening, on their way back to the hotel, they 
passed a gambling -ho use with the sign “The Verandah.” 
A brilliant light shone from it into the street. 

“ Why should we not go in ? ” asked Creps. 

“ Yes, why should we not see what is going on here? ” 
asked Donatus. 

“ Into a gambling-house ! ” murmured Victor, hesi- 
tating. 

“Come, come! we needn’t gamble. We can get off 
with a dollar. We mustn’t leave San Francisco without 
seeing what a gambling-house is like.” 

Victor let himself be persuaded, and followed his 
friends into the gambling-house, where they sat down on a 




76 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


bench in a corner. They were in a large hall splendidly 
lighted, but full of tobacco-smoke and crowded with men. 
Some few looked like honest fellows, but most were 
ruffians in appearance. There was a deafening sound of 
voices, too, heard above that of the band, which, how- 
ever, consisted of only one musician, who, with a flageolet 
in his mouth, a drum at his back, brass cymbals in his 
hands, and a stick with bells upon his head, made more 
noise than a whole orchestra of musicians. 

At the end of the room was the wide gambling-table, 
behind which sat the banker with his numerous assist- 
ants. The game they were playing was a Mexican one 
called ‘‘Monte,” which was very fashionable at San 
Francisco. Heaps of gold-dust were placed before the 
banker, as well as nuggets of gold, bundles of bank- 
notes, and gold coins. 

The gamblers stood round the table. Some lost in a 
few hours all the gold they had won in the diggings ; 
others were marvellously favoured by fortune. One, who 
had begun to play by staking only flve dollars, had 
already gained 20,000 in less than an hour. 

“ This is a true gold mine for him who has luck,” said 
Donatus : “who knows, if I were to venture, that I might 
not have a chance ? Two dollars will not make much 
difference one way or the other.” 

“ Do not play, I beg you ! ” said Victor, in terror. 

“ Only two dollars ! If I lose them I stop at once.” 

“A few dollars will make no difference to us,” re- 
marked Creps. “ I should like to try my hand at this 
game, too.” 


THE GAMBLING-HOUSE. 


77 


Victor remained seated, watching his friends, who 
approached the table. 

When, half-an-hour after, they returned, Jan was 
laughing with an air of triumph, while Donatus grumbled 
that he had lost seven dollars out of the twenty-five 
which Victor had given him on board the Jonas. Creps 
had been luckier; at one moment he had actually had 
more than 3,000 francs, but fortune having at last 
declared against him, on the advice of an American he 
had left the table with still about 500 francs in his 
pocket. 

Jan now ordered wine for his friends with the money 
he had won. While they were drinking he urged 
B-oo^eman to risk a couple of dollars, just to see whether 
fortune would favour him or no. He laughed at his 
friend^s horror of gambling. Victor, vexed at this, 
suddenly got up, and said, “ Well, if you wish it, I will 
play ; but on this condition — I shall take out ten dollars 
only, and when I have lost that money I insist that we 
all return to our hotel, without staying here a minute 
longer.^’ 

“ Yes, but if you win 

“ I shall lose, I know.” 

“ You can’t be certain of it.” 

But, Jan, why try to keep me here ? ” said Booze- 
man, sadly. “This gambling-house terrifies me; whether 
I win or not, if you refuse to follow me to the hotel, I 
shall go alone.” 

“ Come, don’t be angry ; we accept your condi- 
tions.” 


78 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


The three friends approached the table. Matters 
turned out as they often do; Fortune declared herself 
in favour of him, who at heart hoped to lose. Eoozeman 
won several times, and as he placed dollar after dollar 
on the table, gold- pieces and bank-notes were heaped up 
before him in a surprising manner. This wealth at last 
blinded him, and he continued to play as if he did not 
know what he was doing. 

As to his friends. Crops continued to lose, but Donatus 
had a good heap of dollars before him. Fortune was fa* 
vouring Victor in such an extraordinary maimer that the 
banker grumbled as he threw handfuls of gold and bank- 
notes to him. All surrounded the lucky fellow, and 
envious eyes were cast on the riches he had won. Victor 
was too absorbed in the game to observe them ; he had 
almost forgotten that his friends were at his side. Sud- 
denly he heard Creps utter a cry of rage. 

‘‘ I have lost all, I have not a single dollar left ! he 
muttered. “Quick, Victor, lend me a couple of hundred 
francs I ” 

But Roozeman, horror-struck at his friend^swild look, 
put the bank-notes and gold which he had won into his 
pocket, and said to Jan, — 

“ No, no ! let us flee from this house. Don’t play 
any more. I am OS'.” 

Saying these words, he rushed to the door of the room ; 
his friends followed grumbling; all three left the gambling- 
house together. 

There was a strange hesitation then among the 
gamblers. It seemed as if the disappearance of the 


THE GAMBLING-HOUSE. 


79 


lucky young man had cooled the ardour of most of 
them. Many left the place. 

The Flemings, meanwhile, passed through the 
dark streets. It was very late, and they met scarcely 
anybody. Eoozeman, it was thought, could not have 
made less than 40,000 francs, and Donatus had still 
about 800. Notwithstanding Creps’ loss there was no 
reason then to he dissatisfied with the evening’s results. 
Eoozeman himself began to rejoice in his ill-gotten 
treasure, for gold had seared his conscience ; still he 
declared that he should look upon his gains, as belonging 
to a common stock. 

‘Mt is true,” said Jan, “that when the directors of the 
Company arrive at San Francisco we shall not want for 
anything, hut meanwhile we can live comfortably and 
remain at our hotel. Besides, this money will enable 
us to hasten our return to our native country.” 

“ Forty thousand eight hundred francs ! ” murmured 
Donatus; “that makes thirteen thousand six hundred 
francs each ! Well, if he goes on like this I don’t see 
why I shouldn’t buy either the Castle at Natten- 
Haesdonck or a large house in the town.” 

He skipped about and was beginning to sing with glee, 
when a blow from behind threw him down. With the 
sudden thought that he was to be robbed of his money, 
he put his hand into his pocket and rapidly slipped his 
money into his hoot, hut not before he had lost the tip 
of his ear in the scuffle. 

Both his friends had been attacked at the same time. 
Victor was held down to the ground by three or four 


8o 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


men while two others rifled his pockets. He had 
succeeded in getting his arms free from them, and had 
seized hold of one of the thieves, when a dagger pene- 
trated his side and he was obliged to let go his hold. 

But just then voices were heard, proceeding from a 
side-street. At the sound the brigands all disappeared 
in the darkness. 

Jan hastened to Victor, and helped him to rise, but 
when he felt the warm blood on his hand, he cried, — 
Oh, Victor ! are you wounded 
Slightly ; it will be nothing,” was the reply. 

“ Where ? where ? ” 

“ In the side, with a dagger ; don’t be anxious.” 

Crops, terrifled, wished to knock at the first house to 
seek for help, but Victor said he had still enough 
strength left, and insisted on going directly to the hotel. 

Supported by his friends, they reached their quarters. 

Jan made his wounded friend sit down, and begged 
that a surgeon should instantly be sent for. 

A waiter informed them that a surgeon lived a few 
yards off, and that he would call him. 

Though the blood was flowing from Victor’s side, yet 
he laughed and joked, wishing to make his friends 
understand that they need not be alarmed, as his wound 
was not dangerous. 

The surgeon now arrived, and began to dress the wound. 
Then, when he had helped his patient to dress again, he 
held ont his hand to Jan, saying, — 

There, gentlemen, the matter is plain enough. One 
night visit — an ounce of gold — sixteen dollars, please.” 


THE GAMBLING-HOUSE. 


8i 


“ Sixteen dollars ! Very well. But tell us, at least, 
what we have to fear or hope.’’ 

^‘There’s nothing to fear. Half-an-inch higher up 
and the young gentleman would now have been in 
the other world ; but as it is, there’s nothing serious in 
the wound. An ounce of gold — sixteen dollars. I have 
no time to lose, and I want to go to bed.” 

Roozeman searched his pockets. The brigands had 
taken everything — gold and bank-notes. Jan, in con- 
fusion, besought the surgeon to give them a little time, 
only out of pity for their misfortune. 

“ Pity!” replied he, laughing. Where do you come 
from? Pity in California I What a joke! Come, come, 
make haste ! If I am not paid in ten minutes I shall 
ask double ! ” 

But we have nothing ; we have been robbed of all.” 

You have probably a watch. Let me see it, I will 
take it as a pledge.” 

Crepsfelt for his watch; but that had also disappeared. 

Donatus had listened silently to this conversation, 
and was trying to understand the sense of the English 
words as much as possible. When he saw the surgeon 
stamp with rage, while the hotel-keeper declared that he 
would no longer lodge people without money, but would 
turn them out of doors, Donatus came forward and 
said — 

I have money. I pay.” 

He stooped down, took a handful of gold out of his 
boot, and handed the surgeon the sixteen dollars. The 
hotel-keeper suddenly became most amiable and polite. 

F 


82 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


‘‘ Ah, Donatus ! ’’ said Jan ; why did you leave us 
so long in difficulty ? Didn’t you understand what was 
going on ? ” 

Certainly,” he replied, with a cunning smile ; “ but 
I am beginning to understand that one can’t get on in 
California without paying people hack in their own coin. 
If the surgeon had gone without his money, we should 
now possess the sixteen dollars we have just lost.” 

Now came the waiter and asked for the five dollars he 
had been promised, for going to fetch the surgeon. Creps 
reluctantly had to ask Donatus to advance this sum. 

He did so with a grumble. 

‘‘Come along, let us go to bed,” said Jan. ‘‘Not- 
withstanding all our misfortunes we have still reason to 
consider ourselves lucky. The wound of our dear friend 
Victor is not dangerous, thank God. We have seen 
enough of the evil of gambling, and let us resolve never 
to enter one of those infamous dens again.” 


( 83 ) 


CHAPTER XIII. 

THE WEAPONS. 

Crops awoke next morning, he seized his 
od’s hand and anxiously asked how he was, 
Victor’s paleness, caused by loss of blood, 

alarmed him. 

Victor answered gaily that he hoped to be well in a 
few days, and to confirm his words he leaped out of 
bed ; but this rapid movement caused a cry of pain to 
escape from him. 

Oh, Victor, surely you are hiding your sufferings 
so as not to alarm me ! This misfortune which has 
befallen you has taken away all my courage. If I had 
received the wound I should not care so much ; but 
you ! that breaks my heart. Oh, that we had only 
stayed in Belgium, in that land of liberty, justice, and 
security ! ” 

“ Do not trouble yourself, Jan,” answered Roozeman ; 
*^in jumping out of bed I have moved the bandages, 
thereby causing myself a little pain.” 

This morning another doctor shall carefully examine 
the wound,” murmured Creps. 

It is altogether needless ; and, besides, we have not 
the money to pay the surgeon.” 



84 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


‘‘But Kwik has some/^ said Jan; and in saying so 
he turned his eyes towards Donatus’ bed. “ Why, the 
bed^s empty ! he exclaimed. 

“ He got up early and dressed quietly so as not to 
awake us,^* replied Victor. “When I asked him 
where he was going, he said, to look for the end of his 
ear ! ’’ 

Creps suggested that as Donatus had now got some 
money, he did not care to pay to support them, and had, 
therefore, quietly taken himself off. Roozeman was 
indignant at the accusation ; he asserted that though 
Kwik might be coarse and stupid sometimes, yet that he 
was grateful and good-hearted. 

“We shall see,” said Jan ; “ but remember, that 
‘everyone for himself^ is the law of California, and that 
we breathe this horrible sentiment with the air.” 

Victor still defended poor Kwik, and then they 
talked long and sadly over their future prospects. As 
they were thus chatting, Donatus himself opened the 
door. 

The Antwerpers were struck with amazement at his 
appearance as he stood before them, a red sash round 
his waist, through which were passed a dagger a foot 
and a half long, and two revolvers. He carried under 
his arm two other daggers of the same length, and 
two red woollen sashes; he held his head erect, and 
tried to give himself a martial appearance. 

“Where do you come from? what does all this 
mean ? ” exclaimed Creps. 

“ It means,” replied Donatus, drawing his long knife. 







^ ' 






“ As they were thus chatting, Donatus himself opened the door, 
were struck with amazement at his appearance.” 


The Antwerpers 

r. 84. 



V 








THE WEAPONS. 


85 


from his belt, it means, that the first man who 
threatens me I will stick as if he were a sucking-pig. 
I met the Eed Moustache of the Jonas in the street, 
and I took care to hustle him ; hut he pretended not to 
recognise me, otherwise my cold steel would have 
entered his skin as into a white cheese.’’ 

“But where did you get these arms from ?” 

“ Why, I bought them, of course ! They only cost 
a trifie of 375 francs. For that sum I could have pur- 
chased the whole stock of a gunmaker at Mechlin.” 

“ What a waste of money ! ” said Creps, reproach- 
fully ; “ just at the time when poor Eoozeman is 
wounded, and needs all our help.” 

“ Oh ! but I have not forgotten that,” Donatus 
interrupted: “but to eat is not the chief afiair in this 
country, as it is with us. The first thing that is 
necessary is a revolver. This long knife is enough for 
me ; the revolvers and the other knives I have bought 
for you. Take them and praise my foresight : you 
will get more profit out of them than from a good 
dinner and a soft bed. I have thought of everything. 
Here are the belts to put the pistols in. Now, at all 
events, we can go about the streets in the midst of these 
rascals, with heads erect, and ready to defend our lives, 
our ears, and our purses.” 

“Have you no more money?” asked Victor, 
anxiously. “We owe nine dollars for our lodging 
here.” 

“ I have thought of all that,” said Kwik, with a 
cunning smile ; “ poor Donatus isn’t so silly as he looks. 


86 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


No ! no ! IVe done a good stroke of business this 
morning. Mine’s a long story ; listen while I tell it 
you. I dreamed all night,” he continued, “about 
men armed with revolvers and knives; and in my 
dreams I howled with rage because I had not arms to 
defend myself with, for I do not see why we should 
allow ourselves to be slaughtered like sheep by these 
Californian murderers. So I decided that we should be 
properly armed. One revolver is wanting, because I 
had not enough money. I am not so imprudent as you 
think me ; before leaving the hotel I gave the landlord 
nine dollars for our lodging for to-night, and another 
300 francs to pay for Mr. Victor during the next week.” 

“Thank you! thank you, Donatus! you have a good 
heart I ” cried Creps. And he held out his hand to 
him, deeply touched by his kindness. 

“ Let me go on,” said Kwik. “ In California one 
has to be cautious, and act quickly too. I went to look 
for the Brusseler. I promised him two dollars to go 
with me and give me his advice. I learned a heap of 
useful things from him. He has San Francisco — all 
California at his fingers’ ends. I asked him what we 
had best do, so as not to die of hunger. In the harbour 
there’s little stirring now, and most of our fellow- 
passengers of the Jonas have got employment there ; — 
the nobleman of our mess carries deal planks on his 
back, — the German banker draws a hand-cart with 
bales of merchandise, in company with the newspaper 
editor and the ex-magistrate. Ked Moustache picks 
up bits of broken crockery, bottles, and dirty shirts, for 


THE WEAPONS. 


87 


an old Jew, who, as a rag-merchant and a store-dealer, 
has already amassed a fortune. A new cotton shirt 
costs a dollar, and for washing it one must pay half a 
dollar ! Everybody, therefore, wears his shirt as long as 
he can, and then throws it away. The Jew picks them 
up, washes them, and puts them up for sale again. 
And the same with the empty bottles, which we are in 
the habit of throwing out of the window at home. The 
gambling-houses buy hack the bottles from the J ew. If 
I could not find a better employment, I should myself 
become a Jew, — that is to say, a rag-merchant. But I 
am losing the thread of my story : the Brusseler knows 
a great many people at San Francisco. He went about 
with me to seek some situation for you and for myself. 

I am accepted as a washer-up of dishes and plates in a 
refreshment-room, at five dollars a- day, in addition to 
my board, and lodging in a kind of kennel among 
the provisions ; so I certainly shan’t die of hunger. 
As to Mr. Crops, I have found something better for 
him, — assistant to a butcher . . . .” 

‘‘A butcher’s boy!” exclaimed Jan. “I would 
rather harness myself to a hand- cart, like the German 
banker ! ” 

‘‘ But it seems that the butchers do a strange sort of ' 
business here. Before the door of one I saw a great, 
ugly, grey beast, with terrible teeth. I was thinking 
that perhaps bullocks had hair like that in California, 
but the Brusseler told me it was a bear. They eat 
bear’s fiesh here I I am not surprised now that the 
people are so wicked. You will not be a butcher’s 


88 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


assistant then, Mr. Creps ? But I have some other 
posts for you to choose from. There is a good place as | 
assistant in a gambling-house, with eight dollars a-day. 

I know of another as cleaner of boots, washer of bottles, | 
and lamp-lighter in an hotel facing the harbour, — seven . 
dollars a-day, without board and lodging.” '• 

Creps shook his head impatiently. ! 

“You ought’nt to he so particular, Mr. Jan,” , 
remarked Donatus. You will find many of our first- | 
class travelling companions employing themselves in 
more menial offices. Besides, seven dollars ! What’s to 
hinder you coming to sleep at the hotel here, till Mr. 
Eoozeman gets better? Three out of seven dollars, 
and four remain. 

“You are right,” said Jan, suddenly. “Well, I will 
he a boot cleaner.” 

“And have you found nothing for me?” asked Rooze- 
man. “You don’t think that I am going to live on 
the profits of your labours ! ” 

“I have got an easy and good place for you,” said 
Kwik; “but probably you will laugh at it — that of a 
shop-girl. I mean to say, a clerk at a fruiterer’s ! ” 

The two friends burst out laughing. 

“ It is serious, — quite serious,” resumed Kwik. 

“ There is a large tent where they sell oranges, lemons, 
figs, and other kinds of fruit. The proprietor wants 
some one who knows how to write French and English. 
He gives six dollars without board and lodging. At 
the request of the Brusseler, who has procured him 
many customers, he will keep the place vacant for five 


THE WEAPONS. 89 

days. You will then be nearly well, Mr. Roozeman. 
This is, at any rate, a pleasant and honourable post.” 

I thank you, Donatus,” said Victor. I accept it 
with pleasure.” 

Cleaner of boots at an hotel ! ” said Jan, sneeringly. 

Plate- wiper at a dirty public-house ! ” growled 
Donatus. 

“Clerk at a fruiterer’s! If my mother and Lucia 
only knew it ! ” said Victor. 

“ What does it matter ? ” said Kwik. “ As soon as 
we see the mines and are able to pick up gold in hand- 
fuls, all this will be forgotten ; and how many stories I 
shall have to tell to Anneken and my children ! ” 

“Well, we won’t be cast down,” said Creps. “Our 
friend Roozeman is better and cheerful; that is the 
chief matter. Perhaps the directors may come this 
very afternoon ; however, I shall go presently to my 
hotel, where I am to begin my work as shoeblack. 
This afternoon, at two o’clock, I shall be washing 
plates and dishes — dabbling in greasy water, with bare 
arms.” 

“ If we had only breakfasted,” said Creps, “ I should 
then feel more courage.” 

“I paid for breakfast before I went out this morning,” 
said Donatus. 

“ You are a marvel of foresight and kindly feeling ! ” 
said Jan, gaily slapping him on the shoulder. “I 
thought you were playing us false, friend Kwik.” 

“Possibly,” said Donatus: “but if Mr. Victor had 
not been ill, Donatus, probably, would not have 


90 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


remained awake all nigkt to reflect on what he had 
best do. For Mr. Roozeman I would do anything.’’ 
Eoozeman took his hand and pressed it gratefully. 

Come, let’s breakfast, then,” said Jan. 

“ Not till you have put on the belts and revolvers,” 
said Kwik. ‘‘ These weapons must not leave you for a 
moment now. The Brusseler told me so. In fact, you 
might even want them during your sleep. And what 
would be the good of them if you hadn’t them ready 
at the moment of danger ? ” 

‘‘Not even to go to breakfast ? ” exclaimed Yictor, 
who seemed to regard the arms with horror. 

“Not even to go to breakfast,” said Donatus. 
“ Those villains of last night may still be at the table, 
and eager to pick a quarrel with us. But come 
along now ; I would give a week’s wages to fall in with 
that scamp who ran off with the tip of my ear ! ” 


( Qi ) 


CHAPTER XIV. 

THE SAVAGES. 

FEW days after, Victor was able to take kis 
place at the fruiterer’s counter ; his wound 
was rapidly healing, and caused him very 
little trouble now. Crops cleaned the boots, rinsed the 
bottles, and lighted the lamps. Donatus washed the 
kitchen utensils and helped the cook of the restaurant 
in his large tent. 

The three friends met late every evening at a coffee- 
shop, where they passed an hour or two of their leisure 
time. Jan Crops always laughed very much at the post 
which Kwik had got for him. He appeared the least 
content of the three, and confessed that the blush of 
shame often rose to his brow when another servant flung 
a whole heap of dirty boots at him, and told him 
roughly to make haste and clean them. His only 
comfort was that his fellow-shoeblack was a Frenchman 
who had driven about Paris in his carriage, and who 
was really a very well-educated and honest man. 

The three friends earned money enough, not only to 
live very well, but to save a good many dollars. 

The Brusseler often came to spend the evening with 
Creps and his friends, and they listened eagerly to all he 




92 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


had to say about the gold-fields. The pictures he ' 
drew of bandits, wild beasts, and especially of savage | 
natives who scalped their victims, were by no means 
encouraging. 

At the request of the Flemings, and especially of 
Donatus, Pardoes the Brusseler told of his conflict with 
the terrible savages, and in such thrilling words that 
Kwik listened with beating heart and bated breath. ; 

Pardoes had first gone to the mines in the South. ! 
He had suffered extreme misery, and had but little success * 
there. Then he went to those in the North, where he 
found plenty of gold. He would not have left them if 
the rainy season had not made the gold-seeker’s labours | 
impossible. He intended to return when the season was ; 
more advanced, and when he had made enough money ; i 
for he wasn’t like his listeners, a shareholder of the ^ 
Californian Company. He had to make his own living, 
therefore, and by hard labour earn the money necessary 
to return to the gold-fields. The friends promised to 
help him as soon as the directors arrived, for they 
would have no other use for their savings. 

Of all the stories and adventures which Pardoes had 
told them, that which made the greatest impression on 
Kwik was a narrative of a battle he had been engaged in 
with the Californian savages, and their cruel custom of 
scalping the heads of their vanquished enemies. Perhaps 
the loss of the end of his ear had something to do with 
this fear. He often referred to the story of the savages, 
and finished by putting a number of questions to the 
Brusseler. 


THE SAVAGES. 


93 


‘‘ And these savages — have they really red shins ? 

Of course ; that is why they are called ^ Red men/ ” 
‘‘ Yes ; but red ? — really red ? ’’ 

“ Deep red — almost brown.’' 

And are they ugly ? ” 

“ Horrible ! ” 

And do they shoot with poisoned arrows ? ” 

‘‘ They are said to dip their arrows in the juice of a 
poisonous herb.” 

And they really cut off the crowns of men’s heads 
— all the hair and skin? Oh, when I think of it I 
shudder to my very marrow ! ” 

'‘Wait,” said Pardoes, “I will show you how the 
savages scalp people ; for that is the name which they 
apply to this friendly treatment. Remain quite quiet, 
Kwik, and lower your head. There, this is how 
they do it ! ” 

Thus saying, he seized Donatus’ thick hair as if he 
would tear it out, and with his thumb-nail he traced a 
circle round the terrified young man’s head. Then 
he cried, "There, you have no longer any skin on the top 
of your head ! ” 

Donatus, who feared that this was only true, raised 
an agonising cry, gazed vacantly round him, and looked 
trembling at the Brusseler, who pretended to be hiding 
something behind his back. 

A long peal of laughter arose, and Donatus himself 
shared in the general mirth after he had felt his head, 
and assured himself that it was all fun. 


( 94 ) 


CHAPTER XV. 

THE BANKRUPTCY. 

BOUT a week after the arrival of the Jonas j 
a great crowd rushed down to the port 
with eager demonstrations of joy. It con- 
sisted of the passengers of the Jonas and two other 
vessels which the Californian Company had sent to 
San Francisco. A three-master with a French flag had 
been signalled, and the report had spread that the 
directors of the Company had arrived at last, with the 
tools and everything necessary to conduct the share- 
holders to the diggings. When, after a long delay, 
a boat’s crew landed in the harbour, a cry of despair and 
rage hurst from the crowd : The Californian Company 
had failed, and no longer existed ! All the money paid 
to it was lost, and the shares which the passengers held 
were not worth a halfpenny. Was it a gigantic 
swindle ? or had the Company really been unfortunate ? 
Whichever that might he, its four or flve hundred mem- 
bers at San Francisco must help themselves out of their 
difficulty, the best way they could. Most of them had 
no money ; many, who had been too lazy or too proud 
to work, had hitherto lived very miserably, and slept in 
the open air like a lot of beggars. 




THE BANKRUPTCY. 


95 


That evening the Antwerpers met the Brusseler again : 
they naturally talked of the bankruptcy of the Company, 
and of the new position in which this had news had 
placed them. 

‘‘I think of making you a proposal,’^ said the 
Brusseler, ‘‘if you have courage to accept it. Donatus is 
not a hero, I know, hut he is strong, and inured 
to fatigue — a great advantage in the diggings. As to 
you. Crops, I have no doubt of your powers; but 
Koozeman, though robust enough, does not seem to me 
cut out for life at the mines : he might get ill and 
become a burden to the others.’^ 

“ What are you saying ? ” exclaimed Kwik. “ Mr. 
Victor has more courage than all of us. If you had 
seen him at work you would alter your mind, I know. 
Still waters are deep, friend Pardoes.’^ 

“Whether there is truth or not in what you say,’’ 
said Victor, somewhat hurt, to Pardoes, “I mean to 
go to the mines, even had I to go alone, and were the 
dangers a hundred-fold greater than they really are. 
You seem to look upon me as weak both in mind and 
body. Can’t a man have courage unless he swears and 
speaks coarsely ? ” 

“Well, let that be,” replied the Brusseler, “but I 
wish to do something for you; so listen to me. There 
are two roads to the mines : that to the south is shorter 
and easier, but there are more savages to be met with on 
it, which our friend Kwik, I’m sure, won’t relish ; that 
to the north is longer and more arduous, hut the diggings 
are richer, though more difficult. What urges me to 


96 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


return thither is an important secret, which I now dis- 
close to you. Three months ago I was washing gold on 
the hanks of the Yuha river. I had to leave because 
the rainy season made work there impossible. On my 
return one of my companions happened to he a Swiss, 
who was ill, and wished to return to Europe. I ren- 
dered him every service on the way, and on one occasion j 
I saved his life by receiving on my own arm, a blow 
from a dagger which was dealt at him in a conflict with 
a band of highwaymen. My wound was severe; but 
the Swiss, who wore under his clothes a leather belt 
full of nuggets and gold-dust, was deeply grateful, and 
to reward me for my protection told me that he had 
found his gold in a place hitherto unknown, where the 
nuggets were so abundant that they could be picked up 
with scarcely any labour. This spot is situated on very 
high ground near the Sierra Nevada. He described it 
so minutely that, knowing the country so well as I do, 

I can easily And it. Well, I propose that we should 
form a company among us and go together to these 
mines. Do you accept this proposal?” 

Yes ! yes ! ” all cried with joy. 

‘‘Very well, then, I will look out for one or two strong 
companions — for we ought to be six to work there : two 
to dig the earth up, two to carry it to the river, and two 
to wash the gold.” 

“ Oh, Pardoes, let us start to-morrow ! ’’ cried 
Donatus. 

“ Not in such a hurry ! The favourable season has not 
come yet, and we are not ready.” 


THE BANKRUPTCY. 


97 


*‘But why lose time?” said Victor. ^^More than 
two hundred of the shareholders cheated by the Cali* 
fornian Company will start to-morrow, either to the 
north or to the south, most of whom don’t possess five 
dollars : we shouldn’t be worse off than they will be.” 

‘‘Let them go,” said the Brusseler, with a strange 
smile ; “ they don’t know what they are about. Many 
will never reach the diggings, and I shan’t be surprised 
if we come upon their skeletons on our way, to bear 
witness to their folly. You seem to think that one goes 
to the mines as easily as from Brussels to Antwerp. You 
will learn the contrary by experience. Even if the season 
were favourable and we were ready, I should postpone our 
departure until these fellows, without money, provisions, 
or necessary tools, were well out of our way. Hunger 
and misery will turn many of them into robbers and 
murderers, for here there is no law but violence, and the 
strong takes from the weak whatever he wants. So I 
shan’t start this time, till each of us has his gun. 
Revolvers are all very well for fights at the diggings, 
but on a journey one is oftener attacked by bullets from 
a distance, and guns are needed for defence. Many 
other things, too, I shall have to provide, as axes, 
hatchets, spades, dishes, plates, saucepans, blankets to 
sleep in, a sail to cover our tent, and other articles 
besides: all of which I must look sharp for chances 
of purchasing cheap.” 

“But when shall we start, then?” grumbled Kwik, 
discontentedly. 

“As soon as the weather is better and we have money 

G 


98 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


enough to get what we need. You have not saved much 
yet, I think 

I have forty-eight dollars,’^ cried Kwik, striking his 
pocket. 

‘‘ Yes, hut Creps and Eoozeman asked Pardoes, 

I have thirty,” replied Creps. 

And I twenty-eight,” said Eoozeman. 

‘^You are richer than I thought. But there is a 
way of adding to your dollars. Eoozeman has a 
trunk, probably well furnished with fine shirts and other 
linen. Donatus has a bag, too. Give me the contents 
of both and I will sell them at a very high price. No 
one wears linen at the diggings, nothing but a blue or red 
flannel shirt, and one never changes one’s clothes there : 
woollen material is good both against cold, damp, and 
heat. Well, it’s getting late, and I am tired. Each of 
you had better give me ten dollars, that I may begin to 
make my purchases to-morrow.” 

Jan and Victor gave him the money without a word. 
Donatus fumbled about in his pockets and boots, and 
could not find it. He said at last, I’m sorry, but I must 
have left my money in my shed. You shall have it 
to-morrow.” 

“ Ha ! ha ! ” said the Brusseler, laughing, you are 
not quite sure of your man ! You fear I shall run off 
with your dollars, don’t you?” 

Everything is possible in California, you said your- 
self,” said Kwik, getting up quickly. 

The Brusseler struck the peasant’s pocket, and the 
dollars were heard distinctly. 


THE BANKRUPTCY. 


99 


‘‘Well! well! Yes, I have them, after all. Take 
them ! ** 

“Now,” said Pardoes, “we must save as much as 
possible, to be the sooner ready to start. Don’t tell any- 
one of our plans, or a word about anything which I have 
told you. If it was discovered that we were going to 
some unknown and rich diggings they would either go 
before us or follow us, and violently dispute our pos- 
session of the spot. There is every chance of our 
returning from the mines with a good load of gold. 
Good-bye, then, till to-morrow.” 

That night our three heroes had pleasant dreams of 
the heaps of gold they were about to find, and of the 
rich and happy lives they would lead when, their toils 
and troubles over, they were once more comfortably 
settled in their native land. 


( 100 ) 


CHAPTEH XYI. 

THE GOLD SEEKERS, 

ATHER more than a month after the conver- 
sation related in the last chapter, six weary 
travellers were walking through a wide and 
solitary valley to the east of the Sacramento river. They 
carried heavy knapsacks, and were laden with provisions, 
axes, spades, blankets, &c. ; one carried the sail which 
was to cover the tent, another the great saucepan to 
hoil the water, and another the large trough or sieve in 
which the earth containing gold was to be washed. Each 
had a gun slung behind him, as well as a revolver and a 
knife in his belt. They must have been several days on 
the road, for they were dirty and muddy from head to 
foot, and, from their bent backs and staggering gait, it was 
easy to guess that they had walked several leagues that day. 

The place where we find them is the eastern extre- 
mity of the Sacramento valley. On their left extends a 
vast plain ; on their right hills and mountains, whose 
summits are covered with cedars, cypresses and pines. 
Some leagues behind these rise the peaks of the Sierra 
Nevada, covered with eternal snow and ice. 

The travellers have reached a spot where they must 
leave the valley to ascend through a defile between two 




THE GOLD SEEKERS. 


lOI 


hills to the eastward. Now the sun is shining, and it is 
very hot ; hut it has been raining for several days pre- 
vious, and the muddy and slippery ground increases the 
difficulties of the march. 

These men are no other than Pardoes, with his friends 
Creps, Roozeman, and Kwik, and two new comrades; 
the first of whom keeps mostly at Pardoes’ side, is an 
Ostend man, and has sailed nearly all round the world 
in an American ship; from which, however, he ran 
away at Callao, in order to seek for gold in California. 
This fellow looks as sullen as a bear, and his coarse 
language betrays a narrow mind, without a touch 
of generous feeling. He is quarrelsome by nature, for 
he is always boasting of his skill in combats with the 
knife. He has lost the little finger of his left hand in 
one of these encounters. The Brusseler had chosen him 
owing to his great bodily strength, which would enable 
him easily to bear the hard life at the mines, though he had 
no money. The second stranger was a French gentleman 
of about forty, tall, thin, and with regular features, evidently 
a man of high birth : in his gait, manner, and expression 
of countenance, there was something which showed that 
he was well bred and well educated, and which con- 
trasted strangely with the coarse and ignoble face of the 
Ostender. Still the Frenchman was not an interesting 
companion; he only spoke when he could not politely 
remain silent, and then his words were bitter. He 
might often be heard talking to himself, as if troubled 
by his thoughts or by an uneasy conscience, which caused 
Donatus to remark that he had a screw loose in his brain. 


102 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


Pardoes had admitted the Frenchman to their com- 
pany because he had offered him all the money he pos- 
sessed to join them, and as this was enough to purchase 
the arms they still required, the Flemings had accepted 
his proposal with joy. 

Victor was the only one who showed any sympathy 
for this gentleman ; the Ostender was Pardoes’ constant 
companion ; Creps appeared to get on equally well with 
all, and so did Kwik, for although he carried the great 
trough on his back, as well as the heaviest miscellaneous 
burden, he often made the others laugh heartily by his 
comic and witty remarks. 

As they ascended the valley, Pardoes, who always 
went first, looked round on all sides, as if he feared a 
hostile encounter, examining the ground too, and looking 
for the traces of footsteps ; hut the others paid no heed 
to him, for he had done so from the first day, and talked 
as if a new danger was to meet them at every step. 
Just at this moment the Frenchman slipped down on the 
wet ground, and, upon rising, seemed to bend more than 
ever under his burden. 

Well, well, Baron !” cried Donatus, in had French, 
‘‘ Not good with that knapsack on the hack ? More good 
at Paris in the carriage ; isn’t it ?” 

But the Baron did not appear to have heard his 
remarks. 

It seems he can’t understand my French,” mur- 
mured Donatus; “these gentlemen can never forget 
what they have been ! ” 

Slackening his steps, he went up to Victor, and said, 


THE GOLD SEEKERS, 


103 

Mr. Hoozeman, why won’t you let me carry your 
hatchet and blanket? It will he a pleasure to me 
if you will relieve yourself a little by the use of my 
back.” 

Nonsense, Donatus ! ” said Victor, with a smile ; 

You are already laden like a mule. That great basket 
makes you look like a ship without a sail. I’m looking 
at you, because it will be my turn to carry the basket 
to-morrow.” 

‘‘You won’t have it ! ” 

“ No nonsense, Donatus ! I am grateful for your 
kindness to me, but I must do as the others. It’s useless, 
therefore, to speak of it. What makes Pardoes look so 
eagerly round on all sides?” 

“ Oh, nothing, I believe ! What lies that Brusseler 
has told us since we started ! With his long stories 
of highwaymen, bears, and savages, I never thought we 
should be alive for three days; yet all the time we 
haven’t seen a living creature yet, except a hare now 
and then in the distance, or small stags with black tails. 
I tell you what it is, Mr. Eoozeman, the Brusseler wants 
to increase his importance ; he walks before us, leads us, 
commands us like a general, and boasts how needful he 
is to us. I wouldn’t mind running about here alone for 
ten years. But look, what has Pardoes found ?” 

They approached him ; he was gazing on the ground 
without moving, and said in a whisper, “ Hush ! danger 
threatens us I ” 

“Do you see any gold?” asked Donatus. “For my 
part, I see nothing but grass and yellow flowers.” 


104 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


Hold your tongue ! said Pardoes ; and making a 
sign for tkem to halt, he advanced a few steps, still 
crouching to the ground. Then, turning to his com- 
panions, he said, — 

** Get your guns ready ! 

‘‘ Well, well ! what is going to happen ? I don’t see 
a soul about anywhere. Those pine-trees, surely, can’t 
be going to eat us?” 

‘‘ Hone of your nonsense, Kwik ; it’s a serious matter. 
Don’t you see, gentlemen, those footsteps on the grass 
before you and on that damp ground? After some 
experience in such matters, one is able to guess what 
sort of people have passed by here and how many they 
were. Look, the impression is not so large as that of our 
feet, and there is no trace of nails. Mexicans have 
passed by here. The front part of the foot is more 
deeply marked than the heel. They were running, there- 
fore. Peaceable travellers don’t run. They are, then, 
Salteadores, or highway robbers.” 

“ But look ! ” said Victor, “ the footsteps are turned 
towards us. The fellows, then, must have passed behind 
us, and are going away.” 

‘‘Scarcely an hour has elapsed,” said Pardoes in a 
grave voice, “since these footprints were made, and as I 
have not observed them before, the Salteadores have 
probably scrambled up somewhere among the hills ; so 
hold your guns ready to fire, and as you walk, look to 
the right, to the left, behind and before you ; and, above 
all, keep silence.” 

They walked for nearly half-an-hour without hearing 


THE GOLD SEEKERS. 


105 


a sound. The valley had opened out, but they were 
again about to enter a narrow defile. 

“ Let us rest a few minutes here,” said the Brusseler, 
halting. “I entreat you, comrades, to keep a strict 
look-out, and to pay attention to the least noise. We 
have encountered no dangers hitherto, because I have 
taken care to avoid the usual gold seekers* route, but 
now that has become impossible. In this valley the 
paths cross each other. If there are Salteadores or 
bushrangers about, we may fall in with them at any 
moment. Be always ready, then, to defend yourselves, 
especially when our road is commanded by hills or woods, 
as it now is, and will be for some time.** 

They continued to advance, meeting nothing till they 
reached the end of the defile. Then Kwik suddenly 
jumped behind the rest with a cry of terror. 

“What is it? — what do you see?** cried the others. 

“ There ! there ! ** replied Kwik ; “ a whole band of 
brigands ! ** 

All halted and got their arms ready, for they saw 
before them, partly hidden by the foot of a hill, four 
men leaning against the trees, two of them holding long 
guns. 

“Well, what shall we do?** said Creps; “we can*t 
remain here. They are only four: why be afraid ?** 
“Yes, but prudence is as needful as courage; they 
are, perhaps, more than we think: let us watch theni 
for a moment. It is strange ! they certainly have observed 
us ; and, if I don*t mistake, they are laughing.** 

“Come, let us advance,** said Roozeman; “retreat is 


io6 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


impossible. If these men want to attack us, they can do 
so in any case.’^ 

“ Are you afraid, Pardoes ? ” asked Creps. 

‘‘No, no ; hut I am prudent. You don’t know the 
country. But there is no other way. Forward, then; 
but at the least hostile movement we must fire.” 

They continued their road. When they passed by the 
supposed brigands, about forty paces distant, these did 
not stir, but remained leaning on their guns without 
saying a word, and only replied by a short grunt and a 
slight nod of the head to the “ Good morning ” the 
Flemings addressed them. Scarcely were they half a 
gun-shot off when Donatus exclaimed, with surprise, — 

“ I could scarcely believe my eyes ! There was the 
Red Moustache of the Jonas among them!” 

“ You made a mistake, I am sure,” said Victor. 

“ Yes, there he was, flesh and bones, but without his 
thick whiskers, which he probably had cut off at San 
Francisco. He was one of those without guns. So this 
red-haired rogue has become a highwayman ! I always 
said he deserved the rope.” 

“ They are not robbers,” said Victor, laughing ; “don’t 
you see they are only men like ourselves resting a little ?” 

“Not robbers?” replied the Brusseler, still looking 
behind him. “One can easily perceive it is the first 
time you have travelled in California. If these men 
were going to the diggings they would be provided with 
tools, as we are ; if they were returning, they would cer- 
tainly carry provisions : besides, I can tell by their dress. 
You may believe what you like,” he continued, “but 


THE GOLD SEEKERS. 


107 


they are robbers, and are probably only a portion of 
the band. Rogues of their stamp rarely attack travellers 
going to the diggings, because they have no gold then ; 
but I conclude they are waiting on the look-out for re- 
turning miners. At all events, their presence here is a 
bad sign. Let us advance a little quicker, keeping a 
sharp look-out ; for any tree, any bend in the hill, any 
cleft of a rock, may hide enemies, who may rush down 
upon us at the moment when we least expect it. Above 
all, keep silence. You, Donatus, pay attention to this. I 
must act like a commander in war time, and if you don’t 
hold your tongue I shall punish you by making you do 
* double night duty as sentinel. Forward, then, and be 
I on your guard ! ” 

Silently, and with hasty steps, the travellers followed 
their guide. 


( io8 ) 


CHAPTEE XVIL 

THE BUSHRANGERS. 

hour before nightfall the Flemish gold seekers 
were still marching onwards ; but their backs 
were more bent, and they seemed almost 
wearied out. They had had a hard day, and longed 
to pitch their tent and rest till to-morrow. But Pardoes 
had refused to grant the general wish of his companions, 
for their route was too much overlooked by hills and 
rocks, from which they might easily be attacked una- 
wares. 

They had reached a vast plain, where they had an 
extensive view on all sides except to the left, where 
bushes and fir-trees stood. A clear brook ran through 
the midst. It seemed a good spot to encamp for the 
night and to prepare their supper. Pardoes was the 
only one who had any suspicion of danger. 

The knapsacks were taken ofP, and while Creps and 
the Baron remained to guard the provisions and tools, 
the others went to collect firewood. 

They soon returned, and in a short time the tent 
was erected, and Donatus, whose turn it was to cook, had 
kindled a fire, over which hung a saucepan full of 
water. 



THE BUSHRANGERS. 


log 

While Donatus was busy over the fire, the others were 
stretched on the ground under the sail, each wrapped in 
a blanket with his knapsack for a pillow. The Brusseler 
and the sailor were smoking their pipes, the Frenchman 
seemed asleep, Jan and Victor were watching Donatus, 
and laughing at his awkward movements as he made 
coffee and fried bacon. 

Night was coming on, and the horizon had already 
disappeared in the twilight. When the smell of the 
bacon rose to Donatus’ nostrils, his mouth watered, and 
he began to sing a Flemish song with no little glee. 

Then raising a tin plate in the air, he showed the 
rasher to those who were lying under the tent, exclaim- 

ing,— 

‘‘ Look, gentlemen ! I come from the land of dainties ! 
Who could make me so brown, so fat, so ” 

Here the report of a pistol rang out sharply ; a bullet 
pierced the tin plate in Donatus’ hand, and he, raising 
a loud cry, let the bacon fall into the fire. 

The others sprung up, their weapons in their hands, 
and hastened from the tent to defend themselves against 
the attack which the pistol-shot had announced. 

‘‘Yonder ! yonder ! ” cried the sailor. “ Between the 
trees ! a man running away ! ” 

“ Stay here, Donatus — your gun in your hands and 
ready cocked,” said the Brusseler, as, followed by the 
others, he ran towards the wood, to keep the fugitive 
within gunshot if possible. 

Kwik, completely stupified, stood before the fire, his 
gun in his hand. 


no 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


A fine feast, truly ! ’’ growled he, angrily, at length. 

Oh, if I were only at Natten-Haesdonck ! ’’ 

Suddenly he began to tremble all over : right before 
him, in the twilight, he fancied he could see men ap- 
proaching the tent, bending down among the thick wild 
mustard plants. Soon there was no doubt about it : one 
of his foes stood erect. Donatus levelled his gun, 
and raising his eyes to Heaven, said, 0 God ! pardon 
me : it is not my fault.’^ After this short prayer he fired ; 
a piercing cry was heard, and the man fell backwards. 

The other robbers rushed forward to attack Donatus, 
but he fired so sharply upon them with his revolver that 
they seemed to hesitate. 

At this moment two or three shots were heard from 
among the trees, and several bullets whistled through 
the air over the heads of the surprised bushrangers. 
They, seeing that their attack had failed, and that they 
had to contend with superior forces, fled hastily through 
the tall grass, and disappeared among the brush- 
wood. 

It was Donatus* comrades, who had hastened up when 
they heard him fire, and by their timely appearance had 
driven away the robbers. 

My poor Kwik, are you wounded ? ’* asked Victor, 
as he saw the peasant’s sad and dejected air. 

‘‘ No, Mr. Eoozeman,” sighed Donatus : ‘‘ worse than 
that ! I have killed a man, alas ! — one of God’s creatures 
like myself. That will weigh upon my conscience like 
a block of lead.” 

“ What ! killed a man ? Where ? ” asked Pardoes. 


THE BUSHRANGERS, 


III 


He fell down yonder, about fifty paces off, in the 
midst of that tall grass/’ 

Well, take us there ; we shall see whether you 
haven’t been dreaming.” 

Arrived at the spot they found the grass trampled 
and crushed, and a moisture on the ground which was 
likely enough to be blood. 

The Brusseler ran to the tent, returning with a lighted 
pine- brand, which, fiaring up brightly, showed that it 
was indeed blood. 

‘‘ Follow the tracks with me,” said he ; “ but keep a 
good look-out on all sides, and hold your guns ready. 
See ; there were three, and two supported, a ’wounded 
man. The blood has dropped all along beside their foot- 
steps ; the fellow was probably wounded in the 
arm.” 

The poor man isn’t dead, then ? ” asked Kwik, with 
great joy. 

No ; for he was able to escape.” 

Thank God ! ” said Donatus. 

‘‘ It is useless to go any further,” said the Brusseler, 
turning round ; “ the rascals have fled into the wood 
with their wounded companion, and they are probably 
already a long way off ; so come, and let us return to 
our tent. Tell me, Kwik, had these robbers guns ? ” 

Two of them had, and both fired at me. A bullet 
grazed my hair.” 

‘‘Plainly enough they were four, then,” said Pardoes; 
“ two only had guns. They are the same men that we 
saw this afternoon under the trees. They followed our 


II2 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


footsteps at a distance that they might surprise us in our 
tent/’ 

They must be bold fellows,” remarked Creps ; ‘Hhey 
knew that both as to numbers and arms we were stronger 
than they, and yet they were not afraid to attack us.” 

Yes, but you don’t know their cunning tricks,” said 
the Brusseler, and I was stupid enough to he caught 
when I ought to have been up to them. The man who 
fired the pistol-shot close to the tent only wanted to 
alarm us and draw us after him far from our encamp- 
ment. Fortunately, I left Donatus on guard, otherwise 
this decoy-bird’s comrades would have pillaged our tent 
during our absence. This is an old trick of poor and 
famished gold seekers, who thus try to obtain provisions, 
tools, and blankets. Our friend Kwik has proved him- 
self a good and brave sentinel.” 

On returning to the tent, Donatus resumed cooking 
his rashers, while the others drank hot cofiee in tin 
saucers, in which they soaked the little biscuit which 
remained to them. 

Kwik grumbled over his cooking. He thought of 
the double danger which had threatened him, to have to 
shoot down a Christian like a dog, or to receive a bullet 
ill his own head. The first alternative filled him with 
horror, the second did not please him much better. Good 
as the smell of the rashers was, they no longer tempted 
him. 

‘'Horrid cookery!” he murmured: “to come thou- 
sands of miles to eat bacon peppered with bullets and 
sprinkled with human blood ! Donatus ! Donatus ! my 


THE BUSHRANGERS. 


113 

boy, you are a stupid ass ! What are you doing here ? 
Natten-Haesdonck is an earthly paradise in comparison 
with this nest of brigands; cooks can work in peace 
there.’’ 

But at last supper was ready ; each took his portion. 
The Baron, who mounted guard, was relieved after a 
few minutes by Creps. When they retired to rest under 
the sail, the Brusseler said, — 

‘‘Try to get a good night’s rest, my friends, for at 
dawn to-morrow we must be on foot. The rascals who 
attacked us are no longer to be feared. If no other 
dangers arise, we shall not be disturbed all night. You 
know your turns to mount guard. After the Baron, 
Eoozeman, then the Ostender, and so on, hour by hour. 
The Baron will give his watch to his successor. Take 
care not to make any noise, and only wake your comrade 
whose turn it is to act sentry. Keep your eyes and ears 
well open. If you see or hear anything, fire at once; 
and we will all jump up ready to act on the defensive. 
Silence, now. Good night ; sleep well ! ” 

Notwithstanding the excitement of the day, the gold 
seekers soon yielded to their fatigue, and slept so soundly 
that their snorings made the tent sound like a bears’ 
den. 

DoUatus alone kept turning in his blankets, and moving 
about restlessly, unable to sleep. After about an hour 
and a half’s discomfort, he heard Jan Creps, who was 
sleeping close to him, sneeze twice. 

“Ah ! Mr. Jan, are you awake?” murmured Kwik, 
in a piteous tone. 

H 


1 14 OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 

‘‘What’s the matter, Donatus? Are you ill?” asked 
Creps, sleepily. 

“ I can’t close an eye.” 

“Bah! you must sleep.” 

“I can’t, Jan.” 

“ Try, and you will at last.” 

“ All my ribs feel as if they were broken ; I am 
wriggling like an eel on a gridiron.” 

“What are you thinking about to make you feel 
thus?” 

“ I keep thinking and thinking to myself, sleep would 
he all very well if I knew that I should awake alive 
in the morning ! ” 

“ Leave me alone ; you bother me, Donatus.” 

“Very well,” said Kwik, sighing; “if it cannot he 
otherwise I will say another ‘ Our Father,’ and then, by 
God’s mercy, perhaps I shall get some sleep and begin to 
snore like the rest.” 


( II5 ) 


CHAPTEE XYIII. 

THE NUGGET. 

S HE next morning, at sunrise, after drinking their 
coffee and eating some lard cakes, the gold- 

seekers again started. The greater part of 

the day passed without anything particular occur- 
ring. Their road led them through a dreary valley and 
over mountains ; then traversing a vast plain, they 
reached a narrow defile between the mountains, where 
the rocks seemed ready to crumble down upon their 
heads. 

In the afternoon, whilst his companions, after having 
laid down their knapsacks, were resting upon the ground 
to take a little repose, Donatus went to a stream about a 
hundred paces off. He was thirsty and wished to drink. 
As he was bending down to the brook, clear as crystal, 
he saw something glittering in the water. It was a 
pebble as large as his fist, which appeared to be split in 
the middle. 

The young peasant’s heart began to beat violently; 
he turned pale and remained perfectly still, gazing at 
the glittering object. Nevertheless, he seized the pebble, 
examined it thoroughlyj kissed it with transport, then 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


ii6 

ran back to bis companions, raising cries of joy, and 
cutting all kinds of capers and antics. 

‘‘Gentlemen,’’ cried be to them from afar, “tbank 
God I bave found a treasure ! Gold ! gold ! A block of 
at least ten pounds weight ! Enough to buy a castle ! ” 
He stumbled and fell down bead foremost. 

“ Gold ! Ten pounds weight ! Is it possible ? ” asked 
Victor. 

“Certainly it is possible,” answered the Brusseler; “it 
is thus that the largest nuggets are often found. If 
only Kwik has discovered a rich gold field ! ” 

“ Make haste, make haste, dear Kwik ! ” cried Creps, 
with joyous impatience. 

Donatus ran up breathless, and gasped, — 

“Look! look what a large block! Ah! heavy, 
heavy ! heavier than lead ! ” 

At these words he gave the golden-hearted pebble to the 
Brusseler, who, after having examined it, threw it with 
all his might into the plain, saying, with contempt and 
disappointment, — 

“ Triple fool that you are, Kwik ! ” 

“ Was it not gold ? ” the other asked. 

“Gold? It was a piece of sulphur-stone, of the 
kind called pyrites, and it only contained iron and 
sulphur.” 

“ You oughn’t to be so angry with me for that,” 
pleaded Donatus, as they took up their knapsacks to 
resume their journey. I lose by it as much as you. 
Surely others as well as I have been deceived, too. 
^Vhy, is there not a proverb, ‘All that glitters is not 


THE NUGGET. 


117 

gold ? * Come, come, we are not poorer than we were 
before. If there are no nuggets here, we shall find 
some further on.’^ 

They soon recovered their spirits. After about 
four miles’ further march they reached a forest of 
thorny brushwood, scarcely high enough to conceal a 
tall man standing upright. 

Suddenly the sailor stopped, and raised his gun as if 
about to fire. 

“ What do you see ? ” asked the others in surprise. 
There ! A human head, — some one watching us — 
hiding in the bushes ! ” 

Where ? We see nothing ! ” 

The sailor’s only reply was to take aim and send a 
bullet among the trees. 

A cry of agony was heard, and immediately after 
from the brushwood arose a pitiful voice, weak and 
gentle as of a woman or child. 

‘‘ You have done some mischief! ” cried Victor, 
touched to the heart by the sound of the voice. 

Come, come, friends, let us hasten to the assistance of 
the poor victim.” 

They all hurried into the brushwood, with the excep- 
tion of the sailor, who probably saw that they were 
acting imprudently, and remained where he was. 

The others found in a small open space among the 
bushes the body of a man, whose forehead had been 
pierced by a ball. Bending over the corpse was a lad 
of fourteen or fifteen, who was embracing the dead man, 
shedding tears upon his disfigured face, and who was so 


ii8 OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 

thoroughly maddened by grief and despair that he did 
not at first remark the presence of the strangers. 

By their costume they perceived at once that these 
people were Mexicans, and as the lad kept repeating in 
a heart-rending tone the words Pobre Padre ! ’’ they 
knew that he was weeping over his father’s corpse. 

The Baron, who understood a little Spanish, asked 
him how it was that they were travelling thus, alone and 
unarmed, in this dangerous country. 

The Baron could not very well understand the short 
and broken words in which the young Mexican replied, 
but he made out that these unfortunate people had 
already been attacked and plundered, and that they had 
lost their companions in their flight. 

The boy was out of his senses with grief and rage 
against the assassins of his father, whom he regarded as 
thorough highway robbers; for he spoke with great 
rapidity and violent gestures, pointing with his finger 
to Heaven, while his flashing eyes were turned now on 
the lifeless body, now on the group of travellers, 
whom he loaded with curses. 

What does he say ? ” asked the Brusseler. 

He is calling down the vengeance of Heaven upon 
us, assuring us that his father’s spirit will follow us, and 
never leave us a moment’s rest, till our death-bed.” 

** May God have mercy upon us ! ” sighed Donatus. 
‘‘More troubles in store for us ! We have already had 
to fear evil men and ferocious beasts, and now spirits 
too are to be banded against us ! To think of sleeping 
quietly with such terrible curses on our heads ! ” 


THE NUGGET, 


119 

“ Don’t stand there so terrified,” cried the Brusseler ; 
‘^take up your spade: we must bury the unfortunate 
Mexican.” 

The boy sat crouching in the grass, and with glassy 
eyes watched the motions of those whom he regarded as 
bandits. Tears fiowed down his cheeks, while his 
thirst for vengeance seemed a little cooled. Perhaps 
the care of the strangers in not leaving his father 
unburied, made him doubt whether these were really 
enemies who surrounded him, and who tried to comfort 
him with words of sympathy. 

Donatus with horror turned away his eyes from the 
dead man’s face. When he had to help to lay the 
corpse, in the trench, he trembled from head to foot. 
Overcome by his trouble, he fell on his knees beside the 
tomb, and began to pray, while the others covered the 
body with stones and earth. 

When the grave was filled up the Brusseler asked. 
Well, comrades, what shall we do with this 
child?” 

‘‘Do with him?” replied Victor: “why, we must 
take him with us to the diggings, take good care of him, 
and, when we have a chance, find means for him to 
return to his home.” 

“ That will be a great burden to us.” 

“ What does that matter ? After having killed his 
father we could not be so cruel as to leave this poor boy 
in the wilderness, a prey to wild beasts. Even had I to 
carry him on my shoulders I should do so, till I brought 
him to a place of safety.” 


120 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


It is troublesome, but you are right. Baron, make 
him understand that he is to follow us.” 

The young Mexican got up and obeyed ; he walked 
with his head bent down, and seemed indifferent to his 
fate. However, when he reached the plain he pointed 
his finger at the sailor, and uttered some words in 
Spanish, which gave them to understand that he 
recognised his father’s murderer. But he soon grew 
calm again, turning his fiery eyes downwards, and 
followed his guides with apparent submission. 

Come on, gentlemen,” said Pardoes ; don’t trouble 
yourself any longer about that boy : wo must make up 
for the time we have lost.” 

They were continuing on their road when, suddenly, 
the young Mexican sprang among the bushes with 
a triumphant cry, and disappeared, with a dagger or 
pocket-knife in his hand. But attention was soon 
turned away from the fugitive, by a cry of pain which 
at the same moment escaped from the sailor. 

The Ostender, holding his hand to his side, said that 
he had been stabbed with a dagger. The others helped 
him to take off his clothes ; all feared that he had been 
mortally wounded by the son of his victim. 

When they had uncovered his side, they perceived 
with joy that he had only received a slight wound. He 
said himself, that it was not serious enough to stop their 
march for a minute. 

They took up their knapsacks again and walked on 
silently through valleys and over mountains, their minds 
filled with gloomy thoughts. Donatus especially thought 


THE NUGGET. 


121 


of nothing else but of the spirit of the murdered man, 
which he feared would follow them till their last hour. 

What a horrid fellow that sailor is with his brutal 
shot ! ** he grumbled to himself. Now he has made 
us at war with the other world, I shan^t he able to close 
my eyes in peace all my life.’^ 


( 123 ) 


CHAPTEE XIX. 

THE GHOST. 

hour or two later, as they were passing near a 
forest, the Brusseler suddenly stopped and 
— - looked down with surprise. The plants all 
round had been trodden down in a strange manner, and 
traces of horses’ hoofs might be seen on the ground. 

‘‘ Something has happened here,” said Pardoes. 

Look, here is the place ! There has been firing 
here — horses, too ! ” 

** Here is a pool of blood, as if they had been 
slaughtering an ox,” cried Kwik. 

We’ve got into a bad road,” said the Brusseler ; 

it will, I think, be best to turn some miles to the 
northward, then perhaps we shall reach a less dangerous 
country.” 

They left the plain on the left. ‘‘What a land,” 
murmured Kwik, “ where, at each step, one meets a new 
horror ! ” 

They had scarcely walked half an hour when Donatus, 
in terror, exclaimed, — 

“ Help ! help ! A wild beast ! A lion ! A bear ! ” 

“ Where ? ” cried the others, raising their guns. 


THE GHOST, 


123 


There, among the branches. A mouth, sirs, and 
eyes — oh, eyes ! ” 

‘‘We see nothing.’^ 

“Are you blind, then? Don’t you see those two 
horns rising and falling among the bushes? Help! 
help ! it is coming ! ” 

“ Stupid fellow ! ” cried the Brusseler, laughing. 
“ It is a couple of donkey’s ears you see there. Keep 
still, friends; Heaven is perhaps sending us valuable 
aid. This animal probably belongs to the party who 
were attacked at the spot where we saw the blood. But 
we must be quiet for a minute ; some treachery may be 
lurking in connection with this animal.” 

“ A good comrade for you, Donatus,” grumbled the 
sailor ; “ there will be a couple of you now.” 

It seemed as if Donatus was of the same opinion, 
for he ran towards the bushes while the others watched 
him. A minute or two after he appeared on the plain, 
holding in his hand the bridle of a mule, who quietly 
allowed himself to be led. Kwik seemed delighted ; he 
caressed the mule, addressing it in the tenderest words. 
The Brusseler said that it would render them good 
service, and relieve them of a large portion of their 
heavy baggage. 

The spades, axes, saucepans, and blankets, were at 
once placed on the animal’s back, as well as the big 
trough. 

“ Donatus, I shall make you muleteer,” said the Brus- 
seler, drolly. 

“I was born one,” replied Kwik. “Have confidence 


124 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


in me : I shall take as much care of the mule as if he 
were my own brother/’ 

All walked on more cheerfully now. It was a great 
relief to he delivered from the heavy burdens beneath 
which they had groaned so long. Donatus walked by 
the mule’s side, his hand on the beast’s neck in token of 
affection ; he kept up, too, a long conversation with his 
new friend, to whom he related many passages of his 
past life, telling it stories of mules he had known in his 
native country, and, of course, dilating largely on the 
charms of Anneken, the policeman’s daughter at Natten- 
Haesdonck. 

Donatus would probably have continued this chatter 
for hours, had he not been interrupted by his friends 
halting, as if they did not mean to go any further that 
day. 

Comrades,” said the Brusseler, I propose to pitch 
our tent here ; we are on a height, and can see a good 
distance off. There is water in the brook down below, 
and a little further on pasture for our mule. It is still 
daylight, and we might walk on another half-hour, but 
we are not sure of finding another spot so favourable as 
this. Put down your knapsacks ; here we will pass the 
night.” 

He loosed the mule’s girths and unloaded it; then 
gave the poor animal two or three pokes in the ribs, 
which made it run off gaily towards the pasture. 

^‘Oh, dear! Jan Mule! Jan Mule!” cried Donatus. 
‘‘ He will be lost ! ” and he was about to run after him. 

But Pardoes held him back, saying, Don’t be afraid, 


THE GHOST. 


1^5 


Donatus. That is what we always do with mules in this 
country. He will eat and sleep peacefully during the 
night. To-morrow morning we shall find him again. 
The hell on his neck will tell us where he is. He won’t 
stray ; he is used to it.” 

It was Jan Crops’ turn to he cook to-night : while he 
was making up the fire, he said to Kwik, — 

Take the saucepan, Donatus, and run to the bottom 
of the hill and fetch me some water ; the cofiee will be 
all the quicker made.” 

Kwik took the saucepan and hastened oflp. 

“We shall get a better night’s rest, I hope, than we 
did last night,” said the Brusseler ; “ we must go to bed 
early too, that we may be off in good time in the morn- 
ing. If we are not lazy we shall soon reach the mines of 
Yuba.’* 

“ Soon ? When, then ? ” asked the sailor. 

“ In three or four days, probably. We can rest a little 
then, and renew our provisions in the stores there, before 
we go on to our diggings.’* 

While they were talking about the stores and what 
was sold in them, they were interrupted by the arrival of 
Donatus, who almost let his kettle of water fall on the 
ground, as with pale cheeks and uplifted arms, he stuttered 
out,— 

“ I have seen, down yonder^ something so uglyj so horri- 
ble, that I have almost lost my head with fear.” 

“Tell us what you have seen!” grumbled Pardods, 
impatiently. 

“ Yes : but let me get my breath. Yonder, behind the 


126 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


mountain, close to the water, a man is hanging from a 
tree, his legs still quivering. He would certainly cry out, 
hut he can’t, for he is hung by a slip-knot in a rope.” 

Come ! come ! let us go and see what it is.” 

Donatus led them to the foot of the hill, and showed 
them in reality a man hanging from the highest branch 
of a tree. The wind blowing through the gulley made 
the corpse swing ; this movement had led Kwik to ima- 
gine that the man might still be alive. 

Yictor, approaching nearer to the tree, remarked that 
a tin plate had been nailed against its trunk. Donatus 
stopped trembling, though he dared not approach the 
corpse, but the jeers of the sailor at last made him follow 
the others. 

On the tin plate the following inscription was written 
with an iron point, in English. Victor read it aloud : — 

** Eespect Lynch law ! Jack Kalep here murdered his 
bosom friend in order to steal his gold.” 

‘‘ Look ! close to the tree here is a little cross of wood 
in the ground,” said the Baron ; this must be the 
victim’s grave.” 

** Well, these are matters which don’t concern us,” said 
the Brusseler, turning away. Come, let us return to 
our tent.” 

“Are you going to leave that man hanging there?” 
asked Kwik, with disgust. 

“ He has been hanging there certainly for the last six 
weeks.” 

“And you won’t bury him ? He was perhaps a Chris* 
tian like us.” 


THE GHOST. 


127 

Victor tried to make him understand that there must 
be limits to his compassion. The dead man was a horrible 
assassin, who had well deserved his punishment ; and 
Kwik turned away, murmuring, — 

“ I’d rather sleep in the cemetery of Natten-Haesdonck 
than here — though that wouldn’t be pleasant at midnight. 
What a country ! What a horrible country ! ” 

The coffee and fritters were soon ready. Supper over, 
Victor acted as sentry, while the others went to rest under 
their tent. 

Donatus was even more restless than he had been on 
the previous night. He kept his eyes closed, for when- 
ever he opened them the darkness became full of all sorts 
of terrible forms. He saw the corpse of the Mexican, then 
that of the hanging man, and afterwards of his victim, 
pass before his eyes, each threatening him. But what 
filled him with the most abject terror was the thought 
that in the middle of the night he would be called to 
relieve the sentinel on guard. He would then be alone 
in the darkness ! His comrades were snoring under the 
tent. How he envied their tranquillity ! Gladly would 
I he have given a nugget of gold, as big as an apple, to be 
able to forget the ghosts as they did. He began to pray 
fervently, and whether it was that his prayer diminished 
his fear, or that he at last gave way to the fatigues of the 
j journey, he fell asleep at last. 

j Towards the middle of the night he felt some one pull- 
! ing his legs and pinching his calves. He jumped up and 
I said with a groan, his hair standing erect on his head, — 
‘‘Oh ! a ghost ! a ghost ! ” 


128 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


‘‘Silence!” growled the sailor; “it’s your turn to!.} 
mount guard — it’s eleven o’clock.” j; 

“Yes,” murmured Kwik, as he went out of the tent, 1 
“thus an unhappy mortal falls into one pit after another.” •' 

“ Here is the watch,” said the Ostender ; “ at mid- j 
night you must wake the Baron to relieve you.” I 

“ Did you see anything in the darkness ?” asked Kwik, 
in an anxious tone. 

‘•Yes, Donatus, my boy : something horrible, out yon- 
der.” 

“What did you see ?” 

“ See ! why, a ghost with a white sheet on its back,” 
said the sailor, in a hollow voice ; “ it spoke to me.” 

“ Come, come I Is it true ? What did it say ?” 

“ ‘ Is there not an idiot among you named Kwik ?’ it 
askedi ‘Yes,’ I replied, ‘he will mount guard about 
the middle of the night.’ ‘Very well,’ said the ghost; 
‘that will be a very good time to wring his neck.’ Good 
night, Donatus.” ' 

When poor Kwik found himself alone in the darkness, 
his legs trembled under him with fear. He would have 
liked to keep his eyes shut, but among all his weaknesses 
he had many good qualities, and one of them was, that i 
he wished faithfully to do the duty which had been 
entrusted to him. He remembered that he was posted 1 
there to watch over the lives of his companions, and | 
especially over Eoozeman. | 

He looked round on all sides. Trees, rocks, clouds, all 
assumed fearful forms in his eyes. ’ 

Hitherto he had been brave enough not to quit his 


THE GHOST. 


129 


post, but bis terror increased as the fatal hour of mid- 
night approached — the hour at which, according to the 
stories he had heard in childhood, ghosts wandered about 
seeking vengeance. 

Suddenly he raised a stifled cry ; he saw, or thought 
he saw, in the distance, a human shadow with a white 
sheet on its head rise from the ground. 

He retreated to the fire, and had to lean against the 
cooking- pole to prevent himself from falling. There a 
happy thought came into his mind. He took the watch 
from his pocket, opened it, bent over the flame, and with 
his trembling fingers put the hands on about three-, 
quarters of an hour; then he slipped under the tent,: 
pulled some one by the legs, and said, — 

‘‘Baron, Baron, awake ! Twelve o’clock. It is your 
turn — midnight ! ” 

“What ! Twelve o’clock murmured the Frenchman j 
coming out of the tent. “It is scarcely half an hour 
since I heard you called.” 

“"Come, come ! ” stuttered Donatus, in his bad French, 
“ when asleep, not know whether twelve o’clock or not^ 
Look, the clock marks exactly that ! ” 

The Baron took the watch and mounted- guard, 
Donatus, rolling himself up in his blanket, mumbled, 
“ It’s not honest— I know it ; but I will make it up to 
him, if I have to mount guard for him ten times another 
day. I am not afraid, I am brave enough, but to fight 
with ghosts — no, no ! ” And he let his head fall back 
his knapsack. 

I 



( 130 ) 


CEAPTEH XX. 


THE WOUNDED MAN. 



HEN the gold seekers awoke next morning and 
looked at the watch, they were not a little sur- 
prised that the sun had risen an hour later than 
on the previous days. All sorts of conjectures were made, 
and the sailor suggested that it might be caused by an 
earthquake, which had moved the earth out of its axis. 
Donatus kept his eyes on the ground, and pretended to 
have a cold in his head, which made him sneeze inces- 
santly. The Baron looked at him suspiciously, but Kwik’s 
air was so innocent that he soon thought no more of the 
matter. 

Whilst they were seated at breakfast, Creps remarked, 
rubbing his hands, — 

“We must make good progress to-day ; we have slept 
well — haven’t we, Kwik 

“Yes,” grumbled Donatus, “pretty well ; but all night 
I have been beset over and over again by four or five 
ghosts.” 

“You must get the better of your silly imagination, 
friend Kwik,” said Yictor. “ God has protected us so 
far, and We must believe that He will continue to watch 


over uSi 


THE WOUNDED MAN. 


131 

‘‘Well, Mr. Eoozeman,’^ replied Donatus, with a sigh, 
“ I am curious to know what new horrors we shall see to- 
day.^’ 

“Come! come! don’t let us lose more time,” cried 
Pardoes ; “ up with your knapsacks. Donatus, go and 
fetch the mule : he is down there by yonder pine-tree.” 

A few minutes after and they were on the road. 
Donatus had become very polite to the Baron, and was 
most anxious to carry his knapsack and gun, but the 
Frenchman, who had no idea of the cause of this sud- 
den change in his manner, refused his offer coldly and 
haughtily. 

Kwik, thus repulsed, returned to the mule, by the side 
of which he trudged onwards, his only consolation being 
in relating to the animal the story of last night’s troubles, 
and deploring to it his foolish departure from the happy 
pastures and peaceful homesteads of his native land. 
But it happened that in the middle of this attractive 
recital, the mule, stung by a gnat, gave a violent kick, 
which threw Kwik prostrate on the ground. 

He must have had a hard head, for before the others 
had had time to run to his aid he was on his feet again, 
and had assumed his place by the mule’s side, to whom 
ho now preached a long sermon on the friendship, grati- 
tude, and obedience which a mule owed to a kind- 
hearted master. 

But he was interrupted by a shout from the Brus- 
seler, — 

“Your guns ready I there are a number of men a-head 
of us.” 


132 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


“There we are: in for it again!” sighed Donatus. 

“ I wouldn’t give a pipe of tobacco for our lives ! ” 

All halted and made ready to fire ; they saw a number 
of men coming, but couldn’t make out what sort of people 
they were. 

As soon as this band perceived Pardoes and his party 
they stopped, too, and got their guns ready. 

“Alas, comrades!” murmured Donatus, “if we can’t 
do otherwise, let us fight, and may God be with us ; but 
there are at least twenty of them, and there is a wood 
close by us to flee into. The priest of Natten-Haesdonck 
once said ” 

r ' “ Ilold your tongue, fool ! ” cried Pardoes. “ I don’t 
believe there is anything to fear here; those men are 
laden with heavy burdens. They are gold miners return- 
ing from the diggings. Look, they are making friendly 
signs to us.” 

The two groups now slowly approached each other, 
and when they were mutually satisfied that they were 
only simple travellers meeting each other, they exchanged 
in the distance shouts of salutation. Still each company 
kept on its guard. 

The Brusseler recognised a Frenchman whom he had 
met last year at the mines. He went to chat with hint 
for a minute or two, while his companions exchanged a 
few words with the other gold miners, from whom they 
tried to obtain information about the diggings. They 
did not tell them much, for these men seemed very sus- 
picious and reserved. When Donatus asked one of them, 
in his bad French, “Is for you much gold in this sack ?’l 


THE WOUNDED MAN. 


133 


"tliey all seemed “angry, and looked at him with threaten- 
ing eyes. 

The Brusseler shook hands with the Frenehnian, 
and said “Farewell.^’ 

The others looked at Pardoes, hoping that he would 
tell them something of what he had heard, hut he shook 
his head with evident anxiety, and remained silent. 

' “Have you had news, Pardoes asked Creps. 

- “Yes, bad news ; ” he replied. 

“Ah ! something new again grumbled Donatus. 
“ TYe have not had any savages yet ! - 

“And it is savages that we may encounter,’^ said 
Pardoes. 

“Well, you can do as you like,’’ cried Kwik, angrily, 
“ but I shall resign my post of gold seeker and return 
home. I have lost half an ear in this enchanted coun- 
try, and I don’t- want . to urrive at Natten-Haesdonck 
with my head bare and shining like one of my plates 
here.” 

“ Hold your tongue, Donatus, and listen to me. This 
is what the Frenchman told me. Between us and the 
Yuba diggings a large band of Californian savages has 
appeared. The news has come to the stores that, four 
days ago, they attacked a party of travellers. The men 
we have just met have seen these Californians in the dis- 
tance. The Frenchman advised me to turn to the west^ 
ward for an hour or two, {hus to avoid meeting the 
savages. We will begin to follow his advice at the foot 
of this mountain. Keep yourselves ready for any emer-p 
gency,” 


134 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


After turning in a westerly direction, Pardoes con- 
tinued, — 

But, on the other hand, there is good news from the 
mines. J^^ew diggings have been discovered higher up 
near the source of the Yuba, which are richer than those 
hitherto found. The Frenchman, to whom last year I 
rendered some service, has given me precise explanations 
about them, and as these new diggings are on our route, 
my opinion is that we should do well to try our fortune 
there for a day or two. There are stores a few miles 
from them, where we can rest and refit if necessary.’^ 
Donatus did not listen to him, he could think of 
nothing but the savages. It was plain to him that in 
this terrible California one must always expect the worst. 
Every now and then he put his hand to his head, pulling 
his hair to assure himself that he was not already bald. 
Suddenly a piercing cry escaped him, and turning 
pale, — 

There they are ! there they are ! ’’ he cried. 

A strange noise was heard among the bushes, and his 
companions, equally astonished, halted, listening intently. 
It was a voice moaning and calling for help. At first 
they could not make out what language it was speaking, 
but then they distinctly heard the word ‘‘God.” 

“Is it possible?” cried Victor: “a Fleming in this 
country ! Let us go and see : it is probably an unfor- 
tunate fellow-countryman.” 

“Keep together,” said Pardoes ; “your hands to your 
guns ; for anything may hide a snare. Donatus, try to 
follow us among the bushes.” 


THE WOUNDED MAN, 


133 


Guided by the cry, they found a young man seated 
against a tree. lie was pale, with hollow cheeks, and 
one of his feet was bound up with rags, as if he had torn 
his clothes for the purpose. His first words proved him 
to be an Englishman. Victor’s mistake had been caused 
by the fact that the word “God ” is the same in Flemish 
as in English. 

He related that he and his companions had been at- 
tacked by bushrangers, and that he was wounded by a 
bullet in the foot. His wound was much inflamed and 
his foot greatly swollen ; he could not walk, and had been 
crawling about in the wood for four days, living on plants 
and roots, and looking forward to a horrible death. 
"With clasped hands he implored the strangers, for the 
love of God, not to leave him alone in that desert. His 
father kept a large store at the Pen Elver diggings, and 
he would liberally reward his deliverers. 

Victor and Jan talked of putting the young man on 
the mule ; but the sailor declared that he wasn’t, for the 
sake of this Englishman, going to take that mule’s load 
upon his back. 

As the dispute between Eoozeman and the Ostender 
was growing very warm, Pardoes said, — 

“ Come aside with me for a moment, gentlemen : let 
us discuss the affair quietly.” 

When they had moved about twenty yards off he 
remarked, — 

“ We have had the good luck to find a mule, a most 
valuable aid to us, helping us to get on much quicker 
towards the goal we are all longing to reach. If we put 


.136 


■OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


this wounded man on the mule we shall have to carry 
again on our own backs the tools and trough, and shall be 
-much hindered in our journey. As to the reward he 
promises us, don’t trust to it. Once in safety, he will 
say, ‘ I am much obliged to you ; good-bye.’ ” 

- ‘‘But are we then pitilessly to leave a Christian, our 
neighbour, to die in this desert?” cried Victor. “Go oii 
then ; continue your journey, gentlemen : if need be, I 
will remain alone with this unfortunate fellow, and carry 
him if I can.” 

The wounded man, who was looking at them from afar, 
saw very plainly that the young man was pleading his 
cause, so he stretched out his hands towards him, gazing 
at him imploringly. 

“Well, I am decidedly opposed to Boozeman’s absurd 
proposal,” said the sailor ; “ let those who like carry the 
tools, I won’t touch one of them.” 

“Very wtII, then we will carry them all : wmn’t we, 
Jan?” 

“ Certainly ! «uch cruelty is horrible ! ’* 

“And you, Donatus?” 

“ Me ! Why, to save a man’s life I would carry all the 
tools and the trough to the end of the world. Perhaps, 
f 00, the good God will regard us more favourably after- 
wards, and not allow those savages to come near us.” - 
' “And what do you say, Baron?” asked Pardoes. 

“I think,” was the reply, “that a man’s life isn’t 
worth making such a fuss about ; but as the poor fellow is 
young, I am willing to carry my share of the tools.” 

■ Victor and his friends had already unloaded the mule ^ 


■THE WOVJ^DED MAN. 


137 


-now they cautiously lifted the wounded man on to t-hn 
beast’s hack. He thanked Victor, with tears in his eyes, 
and said that, to the last day of his life, he would remem- 
ber his generosity. 

According to their promise, Creps and Eoozeman car- 
ried the larger portion of the tools, while the trough was 
•bound upon Donatus’ back. 

■- They resumed their journey. On the way the English- 
man related how his misfortune had occurred. 

My name is John Miller,” he said. “ I was going to 
Sacramento to buy some flour for my father. As no 
mules were to be had at the Pen Eiver, I went on. to the 
Yuba diggings, where, after some days, I found the mule- 
teers I wanted. We rapidly descended the mountain. All 
went well till the third day, on the afternoon of which 
we saw at the foot of the mountain which commanded 
our road, a man bent down and tottering, like one very 
much fatigued. As he was alone, and had no other arms 
but a revolver, we did not suspect anything. To our 
questions he replied, that he had started from San Fran- 
cisco to go to the mines of the north, that he had lost his 
way, and was dying of hunger. We gave him a few 
biscuits and a piece of salt meat. This man had large 
red moustaches and strangely small ” 

- “Was he a Frenchman ?” asked Victor, astonished. 

■ “Yes, a Frenchman; two of our party were able to 
talk to him.” 

- “The Eed Moustache of the Jonas said Victor. 
“ Donatus was not wrong, then.” 

“I should not have examined his face so narrowly,” 


138 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


the wounded man went on ; but it struck me that he 
was scanning us one by one from head to foot, and count- 
ing our weapons. He got up and continued on his road ; 
we, after having shown him the way, resumed our march 
in the opposite direction. As I did not trust him, I 
made my companions stop for a moment, and we climbed 
up a mountain to watch the fellow. He had disappeared, 
and as he couldn’t he hidden anywhere in this plain he 
must be somew^herc among the bushes or in the wood. 
We feared an attack of bushrangers, of whom there are 
many about just now, but after we had marched on 
quietly for an hour and a half, and had met no one, we 
stopped for our animals to rest and graze, and to prepare 
our own dinner. We had scarcely mounted our mules 
again when several men appeared on the mountain above 
us, and fired four or five bullets at us. We returned the 
fire, but the brigands hurst upon us down from the moun- 
tain, before we had time to load again. One of our party 
cried, ‘ Fly ! fly ! ’ and I saw my companions spur on 
their mules. I wished to do as they did, but the same 
man with the red moustaches took aim at me, and the 
bullet went through my foot. My mule made a spring, 
which threw me to the ground, and then galloped after 
the others. The bushrangers followed my companions ; 
for a long time after I heard shots in the wood. I have 
been lying here for the last four days ; my foot is so in- 
flamed that I can scarcely move, and I was looking 
forward to a terrible death, when God heard me, and sent 
me unexpected deliverance through you.'’ 

Victor and Jan talked for a long time about the part 


THE WOUNDED MAN, 


139 


whicL. tlic Red Moustache of the Jonas had played in this 
story, and Jan declared he would send a bullet through 
the wretch the first time he came in his way. 

After they had reached their halting-place for the 
night, and while supper was being prepared, Victor took 
the bandages off the young Englishman’s foot, carefully 
washed the inflamed wound, and then bound it up in 
clean rags. This dressing greatly relieved the poor 
fellow’s sufferings. He grasped Roozeman’s hands, and 
tears of gratitude trickled down his cheeks. 

Donatus gave up his blanket to the wounded man, and 
though at first ho refused to take it, consented at last, for 
Kwik insisted on sleeping on the bare ground. That 
night all slept soundly under the guard of their sentinel. 
Donatus, happy at having been able to perform a good 
action, had no evil dreams, and slept so well that when his 
turn came to mount guard he had to be shaken several 
times before he would awake. 


(-140 i • 


CHAPTEE XXL 

THE VAQUEROS. 

HE Englishman’s presence seemed to have 
brought good luck to the travellers: for a day 
and a half they continued their journey with- 
out meeting anything to' disturb them. 

- In two days more they hoped to reach the Yuba 
diggings. They laughed at Donatus’ fears, telling him 
that, notwithstanding apparent dangers, they were now 
approaching the end of their journey without any real 
harm having happened to‘ them; He shook his head 
doubtfully, replying that one must not sell a bear’s skin 
till the animal has been caught and slain, and that we 
ought not to hold a harvest festival till the corn has 
been stored in the barn. 

On crossing a vast plain next morning, in the midst 
of which stood some isolated rocks, Pardoes suddenly 
stopped, and said, — 

“ Halt, friends ! There is treachery behind those 
hills ! ” 

Pointing with his finger, he added, Yonder, above 
the rocks, hats are maving. Those hats are Mexican 
sombreros. The men who are behind those rocks mean 





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“ A lasso had caught Roozeman round die waist.’ 


141. 


THE VAQVEROS. 141 

to attack us hs we pass. Be ready to fire at tlVe first 
appearance of those brigands.’^ ' : 

While lie was speaking the hats were raised, and 
three balls whistled over the Flemings’ heads. ' 

They all fired together upon their enemies, but 
immediately after, four or five men on horseback 
appeared from the rock, who, without giving' the gold 
seekers time to reload their weapons, rushed upon them' 
at a gallop with shouts of triumph. 

“ The revolvers ! ” cried the Brusseler : they are 
vaqueros — throwers of ropes! Beware of the lasso ! ” : 

‘‘May God have mercy on us 1 ” ihoaned^Bonatus. ' 

He had scarcely uttered the words when the' lassos 
cut the air with a hissing noise, ' and repeated shots 
from revolvers sounded rapidly through the valley. ' To 
avoid being trodden down by the horses the gold seekers 
had separated, each taking a different direction. 

A lasso had caught Roozem an round the waist, and 
was pressing his arms tightly against his body. The 
horseman to whose saddle the end of the terrible rope 
was fastened spurred his horse, threw the unfortunate 
Fleming down, and dragged him along the ground in 
his rapid course. 

Kwik, who was firing in a way which proved how 
dearly he would sell his life, was the only one -to remark 
Victor’s critical position. He rushed to his friend’s 
assistance. Throwing down his revolver, he drew his 
large Catalonian knife out of his belt, and struck the 
Mexican at the very moment when he was about to fall 
upon his victim. . .. 


142 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


Kwik plunged his knife with such force in the horse^s 
side that the poor animal fell mortally wounded. The j 
mquerOy who had sprung from his saddle, and had fallen 
on his knees, drew out a dagger, and aimed a blow at 
Donatus, unhappily wounding him ; but the exasperated 
Fleming seized the raquero by the hair, and plunged 
his knife up to the hilt in his breast. Then, running up 
to Eoozeman, he cut the lasso, and ran to the scene of 
the combat — blood flowing down his face, as he waved 
his terrible knife above his head. When he had 
rejoined his friends, they sent the Mexicans flying in the 
direction of the solitary rocks. Without turning round 
Kwik ran after them alone, though the Brusseler shouted 
after him as loudly as he could, to stop. 

At last he turned back. Victor ran to meet him, 
called him his deliverer, and showed the greatest anxiety 
at the sight of the blood, which flowed down the poor 
fellow’s cheeks. But Donatus assured him it was not 
serious ; the vaquero had aimed the dagger at his heart, 
but he had turned the weapon aside, and it had struck 
his head, giving him a large gash above his 
car. 

Creps, the Brusseler, and the Frenchman, seized his 
hand, praising him loudly for his courage in tlie 
encounter. He replied, modestly, ‘‘ I am not a braver 
man than I was yesterday. But Mr. Victor was in 
danger of death ; that maddened me. I did not know 
what I was doing. May God pardon me such words, 
but if I had to kill a hundred Mexicans to save Mr. 
Boozeman, I think I should do it.” 


THE VAQUEROS. 


143 


“Now you have murdered a Christian,” growled the 
sailor ; “ his ghost ” 

“ Ghost ? that wretched Mexican ? ” cried Donatus, 
with a fresh outburst of anger. “He was about to 
assassinate Mr. Victor : his ghost may appear if it 
likes ; I will stab the spectre too.” 

All this time the others were relating what had 
happened to them. The Frenchman had also been 
caught in the lasso, and dragged some distance off, 
but Crops had darted forward and cut the cord. 
The Brusseler had plunged his knife into the thigh 
of one of his foes; another must have received a 
bullet in his body, for they had seen him fall from 
his horse, and it was owing to his cries and hasty 
flight that his companions had left the field of 
battle. 

“It was I,” said the sailor, “who sent the bullet 
into that vagabond’s heart.” 

“ Indeed ! where were you ? I didn’t see you once 
during the conflict,” asked Creps. 

“ You think of nothing,” replied the Ostender. “ To 
prevent our poor wounded man from having his neck 
broken I tied the mule’s bridle to my belt, to hinder 
the beast from running away. Protected thus against the 
lasso, I was able to load my gun repeatedly and take 
good aim at these wretches. It was my bullet which 
struck the vaquero in the chest. Had it not been for 
my presence of mind we should probably all be dead 
at this moment.” 

“ Come, that wasn’t a bad idea,” said Kwik, laugh- 


144 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


ing: ‘^ next time we arc attacked I will 'get behind the 
mule, too ! ’’ 

Deeply stiiiig By this sneer, the sailor sprang forward, 
brandishing his knife, and would propably have struck 
Donatus, had not Creps seized his hand, and while he 
held it in an iron grip,- exclaimed, — 

you value'^ your life don’t touch a hair of his 
head!”*^ 

, Pardoes and Victor rushed in between them. 
Donatus humbly asked the sailor’s pardon, asserting 
that he had no intention of insulting him, and proclaim- 
ing aloud that the hasty flight of their assailants was 
all owing to the skill and courage of the Ostender. 
This calmed the sailor, and he even shook hands with 
the man whom a moment before he had wished to 
strike. 

Oh examining the' wounds of’ Donatus and the 
Frenchman, they found that neither of them was- 
sufficiently serious to prevent them from continuing 
their journe)". ^ 

^ ' The .sailor wished to go and search for the dead 
vaqiiero and his horse, doubtless to see if any valuables 
were to be found ; but Pardoes held him back, 
saying,— 

‘‘ No, leave him. Forward, gentlemen : don’t let us 
lose any more time. 'We are not safe in this plaim> 
Mexicans are full of revenge, and I shan’t be surprised 
if the brigands return in larger numbers. We must 
hurry on to gain those heights yonder, where the 
horses can’t reach us.” 


THE VAQUEROS. 


145 


Donatus walked along by tbe mule’s side, carrying 
in bis band a leather cord made of three thin straps 
plaited together, more than twenty feet long, and with 
a slip-knot at the end. 

‘^That’s a lasso you’ve got in your hand, Kwik,” 
Pardoes said. 

Yes, I know it is,” he replied : but I’m puzzling 
my brains to make out how they can catch a man with 
it. Those fellows must be wonderfully well practised 
in throwing the lasso.” 

Yes, they are well skilled in it, certainly ; but it’s 
not without difficulty that they acquire the habit. I 
was shipwrecked during a voyage on the Mexican coast, 
and thus had a good chance of observing the mqiieros. 
No sooner are the children of these people able to walk 
than they begin to fling a lasso : first they snare cats and 
dogs, then mules, and, finally, oxen and horses; for 
the real use of the lasso is only to capture the 
latter.” 

Towards evening they perceived in the distance three 
or four large tents and as many fires. They halted, 
to try and make out whether they were in the 
vicinity of friends or foes. 

They are muleteers,” said the Brusseler, carrying 
a supply of flour from Sacramento to the diggings. I 
hear, too, the bells of their mules. Come on boldly — wo 
have nothing to fear.” 

The muleteers, seeing a band of men in the dis- 
tance, seized their weapons and placed themselves on 
the defensive, but on perceiving that they were only 

K 


146 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


gold seekers they saluted them in a friendly manner. 

John Miller, whose foot was, now, thanks to Victor’s 
care, much better, recognised the head muleteer as | 
having carried flour and other provisions on several ] 
occasions for his father. When the man expressed his \ 
astonishment at seeing him there, wounded and wander- 
ing among the mountains, the young Englishman told, 
with much gratitude, how his companions had taken 
him up when he was half dead in a wood, and given 
him their only beast of burden to save his life. Upon 
this the Flemings were invited to pass the night with 
the friendly muleteers. In honour of their guests they 
prepared their best provisions ; and fresh vigour seemed 
to flow into the veins of the weary gold seekers — so 
well did they eat and drink. 

What most rejoiced them was, the certainty that to- 
morrow afternoon they would reach the flrst diggings of | 
the Yuba. It was decided that John Miller should | 
remain with the muleteers, as they were willing to take | 
him, in a few days, to the Pen Fiver. He wished to 
give money to his deliverers, but as they refused to 
accept it, he insisted on their taking a fresh stock of flour 
and salted lard. This he thought might be necessary 
for them, as, since the fresh influx of gold seekers, 
everything in the mines was scarce and dear. The 
Flemings might have continued in company with their 
new friends, but as their mules were heavily laden, they 
could only proceed slowly, and as Pardoes could brook 
no delay, it was agreed that they should start by them- 
selves at sunrise. 


THE VAQVEROS. 


147 


After John Miller had once more warmly thanked 
his deliverers and shaken Creps, Eoozeman, and Kwik 
warmly by the hand, they all slipped under their tent, 
and soon fell into a profound sleep. 


( 148 ) 


CHAPTER XXII. 


THE DIGGINGS. 



HE sun had risen gloriously on the horizon, and 
promised a splendid day. The gold seekers 
started early, and went on quickly with- 
out taking any rest on the road. The thought that 
each step brought them nearer to the diggings gave 
them fresh courage, and as the mule carried all the 
heavy luggage and the tools, they were light in body 
and joyous in spirit. 

When, towards the close of the afternoon, they did 
not see the diggings, which they quite expected to have 
reached by that time, they became melancholy, fearing 
lest they had lost their way and might have to pass 
another night in the mountains. After they had been 
silently ascending a high mountain for more than an 
hour, Jan Creps, who was in front, turned round and 
cried out with joy, — 

Praise God, my friends ! There they are ! Down 
yonder ! Hurrah — the diggings ! 

His companions rushed up, and, raising their arms 
towards the sky, shouted, — 

Hurrah ! hurrah ! ” 


THE DIGGINGS. 


149 


See ! see ! ’’ said DoDatus. Are those the 
diggings ? It is like a nest of ants ! Where do all 
those men come from — if they are men ? I think one 
could count more than a thousand. Let us go down 
quickly, my friends : if all those fellows, scratching at 
the' earth like moles, are to get a load of gold, there will 
not remain much for those who come after them.’’ 

Without heeding what Donatus said, the others had 
seated themselves on the slope of the mountain to rest 
a little, and enjoy at the same time the view of the 
diggings, which all, with the exception of the Brus- 
seler, now saw for the first time. From the place where 
they sat the bare and uneven rocks were piled many 
hundreds of feet above a plain, of which the soil was 
visibly composed of mud and stones. Half a mile 
beyond, and right in front of them, rose a rocky mountain, 
equally steep; and between these two huge ramparts flowed 
the Yuba, winding through the middle of the valley. 

This plain, on whichever side they looked at it, was 
covered with a swarm of gold seekers, and looked, as 
Donatus had said, not unlike an ant’s nest. 

From this point they might be seen drawing the 
auriferous sand from hundreds of holes, piercing the 
soil with spades and pick- axes, carrying the earth to the 
river, sifting and washing it. The diggers and washers 
worked with surprising zeal: their movements were 
rapid ; they ran rather than walked. 

On each side of the river, at the foot of the high 
mountains, the tents of the gold seekers were pitched ; 
separated at a certain distance from each other, and 


150 OFF TO CALIFORNIA. | 

pre?enting the regular aspect of a military camp. Some of i 
these tents were covered with canvas — sometimes a sail, ; 
others were only composed of the green branches of pine- 
trees. On the left, at the foot of high rocks, where the > 
ground was a little raised, the stores were placed. They ; 
consisted of about twenty tents, and amongst them some 
six or seven were conspicuous by their size. A crowd '< 
more numerous than in the plain swarmed round the , 
stores : all these people were huddled together, and the j 
Flemings heard, even at that distance, the wild songs l 
and confused cries which rose from this multitude. 

The Brusseler explained to his companions what they i 
saw, for he knew this digging, where he had worked for I 
some weeks. Pardoes replied to an exclamation of 
Donatus, who could not restrain his impatience, and 
wished to run down into the valley to begin at once to 
collect the gold, — 

** There is probably nothing for us to do here : all 
the valley has already its proprietors, and there is not 
any room for more.’’ 

“What! what did you say?” said Kwik. “Pro- 
prietors ? The soil in California belongs to no one ; we 
are masters here as much as those who are collecting 
the good gold down yonder.” 

“You are wrong — at least partly so,” replied Pardoes. 

“ It is true that there are no written laws here, but 
there are, none the less, among the gold seekers, certain 
rules, which must be observed by every one if he does 
not wish to draw upon himself the vengeance of all. It 
is accepted here that those who first occupy a place to 


THE DIGGINGS. 


151 

seek for gold are proprietors of that place upon a zone 
of thirty feet between the river and the beginning of 
the high rocks. This tongue of earth is called a claim. 
Each company of gold seekers possesses one. Supposing 
the claim is bad, or is exhausted, they are obliged to 
look for another that does not belong to anybody. In 
this valley there will be nothing for us to do, my boy.’’ 

“ Where shall we go, then ? ” 

“ Observe how those rocks on either side of the river 
approach each other, and enclose the plain like a basin. 
Further on the valley widens, but the soil still contains 
gold, more or less. We must ascend higher up the 
river till we come to a favourable spot which is not 
already taken. I think we might succeed two or three 
leagues away from this valley. There we shall find the 
diggings the Frenchman told me about. But we had 
better pitch our tents here till to-morrow morning.” 

“ Here on the mountain ? ” grumbled Donatus. 

Why not lower down, near the others ? Oh, I long to 
sleep upon gold ! ” 

‘‘We shan’t find any vacant spot down there. There 
is very little wood and our mule will find no pasture. 
Why go down, when to-morrow wo shall be obliged 
to ascend this mountain to resume our journey?” 

“ However, I should like to see what is going on at 
the diggings,” said Eoozeman. “ I propose we draw 
lots. Two of us shall remain hero to pitch the tent and 
guard our baggage and tools ; the other four can go to 
the diggings and stores. Here there is not much to fear, 
especially when one does not possess any gold.” 


152 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


The proposal was accepted. The lot fell on Crops 
and the sailor to remain. The others hastened to throw 
aside their knapsacks, gave their guns to their comrades 
to take care of, and tried to find a place from which 
they could reach the valley. 

The Brusseler soon found a dried-up torrent bed ; 
down this, fearing at every instant to break their necks, 
they at last gained the valley, along which they slowly 
made their way. 

As they passed by an abandoned well the Baron 
picked up a handful of earth ; and after examining it 
he exclaimed, — 

Gold ! I see gold ! ” 

** Gold ? Oh, let me see it ! let me see it ! ’’ cried 
Kwik. It is true ! it is gold ! gold glistening among 
the sand ! 

** Why can’t we remain here ? ” asked Victor. 
Certainly we must, as we can pick up gold with our 
hands,” added Donatus. 

“ This well belongs to the claim of some men who 
have been busy before us washing the earth in water,” 
said Pardoes. ‘‘They won’t allow us to work here. 
Hark I they are crying after us that we must go on. 
Come, come ; don’t let us lose any more time. What 
the Baron holds in his hand is sand which has already 
been washed. It contains nothing of any value. Gold- 
dust is everywhere m^ixed with the earth here, but the 
difficulty consists in finding a spot where the sand con- 
tains gold enough tb yield a good reward for one’s 
labour.” 


THE DIGGINGS. 


153 


They soon reached the river, where they remained for 
some time watching four men who were busy shaking a 
great sieve full of earth, while two others ' constantly 
poured water upon it. 

When at last the sieve was opened that the washed 
gold might be taken out of it, Donatus drew back in 
amazement. 

I declare,’^ he cried, it is all gold inside it ! 
Hitherto I have always believed that we were cheated, 
but now I must believe what I see with my own eyes. 
Ah ! ah ! Anneken ! a sack of gold ! a castle ! Hurrah ! 
hurrah ! ’’ 

And he began to cut foolish capers and clap his hands 
with as much noisy delight as if he already possessed the 
treasures he dreamt of. The gold seekers looked at him 
with a somewhat contemptuous smile, but did not stop 
in their work. 

A joyful expression appeared for the first time on the 
Baron’s face ; his eyes sparkled with pleasure. 

These men are, indeed, not altogether unfortunate,” 
said Pardoes; ‘‘but don’t deceive yourselves as to the 
amount of gold you saw glitter in their trough. It is not 
worth more than from fifteen to twenty dollars. It is, 
too, the fruit of half-a-day’s labour. They are five, so 
each has scarcely made four dollars.” 

Our friends walked on for a long way among men 
employed in digging and washing gold. The Brusseler 
now and then stopped to question them as to the chance 
of finding a free claim in that valley. 

Some men, who seemed to be finding a gi’eat deal of 


t 


154 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


gold, were desirous of selling their claim for a thousand i 
dollars, but as Pardoes and his friends only possessed f 
fifteen dollars among them, they were obliged to refuse ,> 
this offer. > 

They reached the stores, and, standing at some dis- j 
tance from the crowd, watched for a few moments the i 
strange population which swarmed here. All were very i 
dirty ; their uncombed beards almost entirely concealed 
their faces. The only clothing most of them wore was a 
red or blue flannel shirt, and a pair of trousers fastened 
with a strap round the loins. Some had high boots; 
others thick shoes ; many were barefoot. But no one 
was without a belt with two or three revolvers or at 
least a big knife stuck in it. 

It was evident that most of these men were excited by | 
drink ; many had to be dragged along by their friends. 
Here curses might be heard, there knives glittered, 
further on the report of a revolver told probably of a 
double murder; but no one even turned his head, and 
all went about their business without troubling them- 
selves with the affairs of others. 

‘‘What a set of brutes we have fallen among cried 
Kwik. “The people of San Francisco are angels com- 
pared with these ! Tell us, Pardoes, when shall we get 
out of this ? I should like to live long enough to pick 
up plenty of gold, but 

“Are you afraid?’^ said Pardoes, laughing. “I 
thought you only feared ghosts.” 

“Well, it needs no stretch of the imagination to take 
these horrible -looking fellows for ghosts.” 


THE DIGGINGS. 


155 


“ I think, friend Pardoes,’’ said Victor, that Kwik is 
right. I don’t feel much inclined to mix with such a 
rough set.” 

“Well,” said the Baron, “we must go and see what 
is going on at the stores ; it may he dangerous, hut, if 
needful, we must use our revolvers.” 

“Don’t speak to anyone, then,” said the Brusseler, 
approaching a shop ; “ do as the others do — that is, pass 
on your way without turning round ; and don’t interfere 
with other people’s business.” 

They found themselves close to a money-changer’s. 
It was a canvas tent, open in front. At the entrance 
stood a wooden table, made of coarse planks, and resting 
on two tree-trunks, from which the bark had not been 
stripped. A pair of scales, a few little heaps of dollars 
and piastres, three big nuggets, some gold dust, a sheet 
of white paper, and two revolvers, lay on the table. 

Behind it sat a lean man in spectacles. He bent 
forward, one hand rested on the scales, the other on a 
revolver. He spied the crowd motionless and silent, like 
a fox watching his prey. 

Two gold seekers approached the counter ; one drew 
from his breast a little leather bag, which hung from his 
neck by a string, emptied the contents on the sheet of 
paper, and said in French, — 

“ Here, Papa Crochu, weigh this for me and give me 
piastres for it ; but don’t rob me, or I will upset your 
shop ! ” 

“Who wants you, I should like to know?” grumbled 
the banker. “ Take your gold and go elsewhere.” 


156 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


‘^Come, come! No more words 1 Weigh this gold, I 
tell you ! I won’t turn my eyes away from your crooked 
fingers.” 

The money-changer plunged his hand into the little 
heap of gold dust, and pretended that the metal was not 
pure; the other swore to the contrary. While they 
were disputing about it the changer weighed the gold 
and counted out a certain sum in piastres. The gold 
seeker left the shop, saying he was a cunning fox, who 
knew very well how to cheat. 

When they were some distance from the money- 
changer’s tent, Pardoes said, — 

“I know that Papa Crochu : he is the greatest rogue 
to be found in all America. He passed ten years at the 
galleys in France for forging bank-notes. You think he 
has not cheated that simpleton ? He has done so three 
times. In the first place his weights are false, heavier 
than they ought to be ; secondly, he has not given him 
nearly the right price for his gold ; and, thirdly, he 
pilfered a good deal of the gold through the paper.” 

“ Through the paper ? ” exclaimed Donatus. “ How 
can gold pass through the paper ? ” 

** In this way : there are two or three sheets, one 
above the other ; in the middle of each is a slit which 
you can’t see. While they are talking and disputing 
the changer plays with his fingers in the gold, pretending 
to find out whether it is pure, but he is moving the 
sheets of paper in such a way that these slits open, and 
a portion of the gold passes through. In this way he 
stole about an ounce of gold.” 


THE DIGGINGS, 


157 


Why didn’t you tell that poor fellow how he was 
being cheated ? ” said Victor. 

Oh, we can’t do that sort of thing at the diggings,” 
said Pardoes ; we should get into no end of a scrape. 
Everyone for himself ; so much the worse for him who 
allows himself to bo cheated. If I had said a word the 
changer would have summoned, by a whistle, a cry, or 
some other sign, the men from the neighbouring stores, 
and we should have been instantly surrounded by about 
twenty threatening vagabonds. The proprietors of the 
shops have entered into a sort of alliance for their general 
defence. Without this means they could not hold them 
long.” 

They passed at this moment before one of the stores, 
where corn, lard, and other provisions were being sold. 

A ham ! ” cried Donatus. My friends, there is a 
ham ! Pardoes, let us buy it ; we shall have a feast. 
It makes my mouth water. Ham, my friends ! it is a 
treat when one has eaten nothing for such a long time 
except badly- cooked lard cakes ! ” 

‘‘ What a fool you are ! ” said the Brusseler. This 
ham would cost, perhaps, four ounces of gold.” 

Four ounces of gold ? It would be a good thing to 
keep pigs here. Four ounces of gold! and there are 
four hams to one pig ! 

No, but let us buy some tobacco ; we have scarcely 
any, and we must not be without this comfort.” 

They approached the shop. Pardoes took up a 
packet of tobacco which might weigh about two pounds, 
and asked the price. 


158 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


Five dollars,” was the reply. 

More than twenty- six francs,” grumbled Donatus. 
“ At that price I could buy a whole cart-load of tobacco 
in Natten-Haesdonck.” 

There’s nothing to be said, my friends,” remarked 
Pardoes. The prices rise and fall here more than in 
the Exchange. We have come at a bad time ; there is 
little tobacco in the stores. If we wait till to-morrow 
we shall probably have to pay double for it. Come, let 
us drink a glass of grog in this large tent.” 

“ It would be better to drink a bottle of wine,” said 
the Baron, who appeared in a very good humour. 

bottle of wine ! Why, that would cost at least an 
ounce of gold, and we’ve scarcely ten dollars among us all !” 

‘Wery well: the grog, then, as the wine is too costly 
for us ! ” 

The tent they entered was full of men standing erect 
with glasses in their hands, for there were no seats. As 
soon, then, as the Flemings had drank their grog, for 
which useless luxury they had to pay four dollars, they 
left the place, where they shuddered at the coarse 
language of the drunkards, whom they saw staggering 
about on all sides, and where they were stifled by the 
thick cloud of tobacco-smoke which almost prevented 
them from breathing. 

Come,” said Pardoes, '' we have had enough of this. 
We must not forget our friends yonder, who also will 
want to pay a visit to the stores. We have still six 
dollars ; we must give two to Creps and the Ostender, 
that they may each indulge in a glass of grog.” 


THE DIGGINGS. 


159 


But now they stopped before a spacious tent which 
seemed full of people, and whence a loud noise proceeded, 
as if a quarrel were going on. 

What are they selling in there?” asked the Baron. 

“ If s a gambling-house,” replied Pardoes. 

^‘Yes, I see that plainly enough,” said Eoozeman. 

Look at that unhappy fellow coming out ; perhaps in 
one hour he has lost the fortune which he won from the 
earth after six months of labour.” 

** An idea strikes me,” said the Brusseler ; the few 
dollars we possess may still he very useful to us. Shall 
we try our luck with them at the gaming-table? A 
large fortune is often won in a few minutes.” 

No ; I would’nt go in there, not for a lump of gold 
as big as my fist,” exclaimed Donatus. ‘‘I dont want 
to lose the lobe of my other ear ! ” 

And our companions on the mountain, too,” urged 
Victor : ** shall we go and lose the money which belongs 
to them ? Moreover, they are fighting in there ” 

He had scarcely uttered the words when a pistol-shot 
was heard from the tent ; immediately after the groups 
of gamblers opened to allow some men to pass who were 
carrying out a dead man by the arms and legs, while 
above their heads threatening knives were glittering and 
terrible imprecations filled the air. The victim they 
carried out had been shot in the breast, and the blood 
was still flowing from the horrible wound. No sooner 
had the bearers disappeared behind the tent than all 
within went on just as before, and the voice of the 
croupier was heard above the murmur of the gamblers. 


i6o OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 

The ricmiDgs, much shocked, continued on their road 
in silence. 

^^What will they do now with that unhappy man’s 
corpse?” inquired Roozeman. 

“ They will dig a hole at the foot of the rock and 
cover it with earth and stones.” 

Without any religious ceremony ? ” 

With none whatever.” 

And is there no clergyman here to say one prayer at 
the grave for the repose of his soul ?” asked Donatus. 

“A clergyman ?” repeated Pardoes. “ A priest at the 
diggings ? There was one when I was here before. He 
came with good intentions; he spoke seriously to the 
men, wishing to remind the gold seekers that they were 
Christians. And what happened to him ? The poor 
priest, in order not to die of hunger, was forced to dig 
for gold like the rest. No one would associate with him, 
because by his exhortations he tried to restrain the wild 
liberty which is looked upon by all here as tbe one 
great advantage of life at the diggings. He was obliged 
to engage himself as a labourer in the service of a gold 
seeker. What became of him afterwards I don’t know.” 

This story, and the terrible scene they had just wit- 
nessed, so affected Donatus, that he had to rub his eyes 
with the sleeve of his long coat to wipe away the tears 
which dimmed his sight. Roozeman tried to cheer his 
friend with the hope that the good God who had hitherto 
protected them would still watch over them, and at last ■ 
bring them back safe and well to happy Belgium. Rwik ' 
was soon comforted; and before they reached their 


THE DIGGINGS. 


i6i 

bivouac was chatting merrily about his dear Anneken, 
and the castle in which they were both to live when ho 
had made his fortune at the diggings. 

The sailor grumbled, and was very angry with them 
for staying away so long : he also wanted to visit the 
stores, and, as night was coming on, pretended that he 
would now be deprived of that pleasure. But when he 
heard that grog might be purchased, he demanded a 
dollar, and asked Creps to go with him. But the latter 
refused, on the plea that he was too tired and sleepy ; so 
[ the Ostender went alone. The friends, after they had 
supped and posted their sentinel, went under their tent, 
and wrapped themselves in their blankets. A quarter 
of an hour after, all snored so loudly that they might be 
heard a hundred yards off. 

Towards eleven o’clock, Donatus, as sentinel, was 
walking up and down beside the tent. It was bright 
moonlight, though the moon was only in her first 
quarter ; he tried not to think about ghosts and spectres 
nor of the horrible sights he had seen, and sounds he 
had heard during the day ; he gazed down at the valley 
at his feet, where hundreds of fires were still burning, 
and where, by the lurid light of the flames, he could 
distinguish the sentries beside the tents. 

Suddenly his attention was aroused by the sound of a 
hoarse voice which proceeded from the bushes. It 
sounded as if men were quarrelling, for he heard terrible 
words and furious threats. 

Who’s there?” he exclaimed, seeing a movement 
among the pines, and raising his musket as he spoke. 

L 


i 62 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


‘‘I will soon wring your neck, Yankee!^’ replied a 
harsh voice, which sounded like the growl of a hear. 

‘‘Oh, it’s you, Ostender, is it?” cried Kwik, laughing. 
“ This way, comrade, this way ! ” 

“What do I hear ?” howled the sailor, who was still, 
in imagination, struggling with invisible men. “You 
dare to say I am a coward ? Say it once more !— then 
die, rogue ! ” 

A hall whistled close by Donatus’ ear. 

“ Come, come, Ostender ! ” he stammered out ; “ I am 
not an enemy ; I am Kwik, your friend ! ” 

But he had scarcely uttered the words w'hen the 
sailor threw himself upon him with the whole weight 
of his body, seizing him by the throat, as if he would 
strangle him. Both fell and rolled over on the ground. 

The pistol-shot had caused their companions to spring 
out of the tent ; they found poor Kwik nailed to the 
ground by the sailor, who was kneeling on his chest and 
yelling like a madman. 

“ Americans silence me ! I will crush the heart out 
of the strongest Yankee ! ” 

At this moment his friends flew to the aid of Donatus, 
and dragged him from the grasp of the sailor, who, how- 
ever, did not recognise them, and wanted to fight with 
them all ; they took away his weapons and did all they 
could to calm him, but he kicked, struggled, and bit like 
a madman. 

“ The lasso ! the lasso ! ” cried the Brusseler. 

Donatus hastened into the tent, and handing it to 
Pardoes, he exclaimed, — 


THE DIGGINGS. 


163 

i' “ Here it is ! here it is ! He should be bound up like 
' a wild beast. Quick I quick ! he will draw down upon 
I us a punishment from Heaven by his horrible words ! 

Pardoes tied up the sailor with the lasso. The 
! drunkard struggled a little longer, then he fell heavily 
I back on the ground, motionless. He roared like a lion, 
and his curses re-echoed through the valley. 

Give me his blanket,’’ said the Brusseler, “ and don’t 
t trouble yourselves about him any more; he is drunk, 
j and to-morrow he won’t remember anything that he has 
I said or done. Go back to the tent, comrades ; I will 
mount guard and watch over him for a couple of hours. 

; In ten minutes he will be fast asleep.” 

This terrible incident deprived poor Donatus of all 
I sleep for some time ; he tried to talk to Crops, but the 
only answer he got was a heavy snore. He let his head 
! fall back on his knapsack, and said sadly, — 

Happy fellows ! they sleep and snore as if they were 
on a feather-bed at Antwerp. Why isn’t my heart as 
hard as the case in which the good God has enclosed it ! 
Gold ! gold ! I would rather fight against a seven- 
headed dragon.” And, at last, overcome by fatigue, 
Donatus sank into a heavy slumber. 

.f* 


( i64 ) 


CHAPTER XXIII. ! 

I 
)! 

THE GOLD DIGGERS. | 

EXT morning, at breakfast-time, tbe sailor was 
still snoring beneath a couple of blankets on 
the ground. They were obliged to roll him to 
the right and the left, to make him open his eyes. He 
got up and rubbed his stupefied head like one who does 
not know where he is, or what is going on. His com- 
panions reminded him of his conduct on the previous 
evening, and did not spare their reproaches ; the Baron | 
was especially indignant, and his bitter words deeply | 
angered the sailor. He excused himself by saying that 
he was drunk, and had had a quarrel with some Yankees 
who were also tipsy. Gambling was the cause of it all ; 
he had staked his dollar and won fifteen, all of which he 
had spent in drink. He asserted, too, that the grog had 
been drugged. As his friend Pardoes took his part, the 
incident was pardoned and forgotten. 

Don’t let us lose any more time,” said theBrusseler ; 
go and load the mule, Donatus : we will take up our 
tent and get ready for our journey. We shall have to 
walk for three hours to-day through a difficult country. 
We must try, as far as possible, to follow the course of 




THE GOLD DIGGERS. 


165 


tlie river. I know pretty well where the diggings are 
which the Frenchman told me about. W^e have enough 
provisions for a week, and we shall find some stores higher 
up the river, where we can buy fresh ones with the gold 
we hope to find.” 

They wound among the defiles and bendings of the 
mountain chain ; twenty times they approached the river, 
and left it again to avoid the deep beds of dried-up 
torrents ; at last they reached a height whence they saw 
a little valley, in the midst of which flowed the Yuba. 

Pardoes for a moment gazed into the valley, then he 
said, — 

‘‘ Comrades, our journey’s end ! That is the place which 
the Frenchman left. Let us here cut down the wood we 
require for pitching our tent, for setting up our trough, 
and making our fire. Then we will go down and find a 
suitable place for beginning our work: we are quite 
alone, and have nothing to fear from other gold seekers.” 

Happy at having at last reached the end of their jour- 
ney, they began to cut down the wood, and in a short 
time had collected all they required for the day. They 
longed at once to look for gold, but Pardoes made them 
set up their tent and store their provisions and arms in 
it, requesting Donatus to lead the mule towards a part of 
the valley covered with green herbs. 

“ Come now,” he said, as soon as they had done this, 
take up your spades, shovels, and a tin plate.” 

As they followed him, eagerly scanning earth, river, 
and rocks, to find a favourable spot, he added, — 

“ Don’t be too impatient, friends ; it’s not certain that 


i66 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


we shall find any gold-earth to-day. It is often found 
twenty feet below the surface, but you mustn’t be dis- 
couraged because of that. I think we shall do well to 
dig at the spot where we now are ; it is in the same line 
as those hollows where the Frenchman and his com- 
panions found so much gold.” 

They set to work with vigour. The Baron made the 
wildest haste; but after a couple of hours his delicate 
hands were covered with blisters, and he proposed to rest 
for a quarter of an hour. 

The sailor, who had not forgotten the harsh manner in 
which he had reproached him for his drunkenness, ex- 
claimed that they could not hear of such a thing ; they 
had not come to California to be lazy, and nobleman 
and peasant must work alike. 

The Baron, stung by this speech, uttered some sharp 
words. A violent dispute arose, which would have ended 
in blows had not Pardoes intervened. 

After resting for a while, they set to work with renewed 
ardour. 

Every half-hour Donatas inquired of the Brusseler, 
Are we not there yet ? Here is a handful of earth. 
See : is there not gold glistening in it ?” 

The others were not less impatient, closely examining 
the little pebbles and clay which their spades threw up, 
hoping to discover the glittering grains of the precious 
metal; but Pardoes told them they might spare them- 
selves the trouble, for they would not find any gold till 
they had worked through a bed of grey or red sand. 

Night was coming on ; they had already dug so deep 


THE GOLD DIGGERS. 


167 

that they now saw nothing but the sky above their heads. 
Discouragement began to cool their enthusiasm and was 
making them feel their extreme fatigue, when Pardoes 
exclaimed with joy, — 

‘‘ Here we are ! we have reached the gold ! ’’ 

Frantic shouts replied to this news, and a three-times- 
three hurrah arose from the yawning pit. 

‘‘ Quick ! give me a couple of spadefuls of that reddish 
sand; I will wash it in the river, and then I can judge 
what we are to expect from it.’’ 

All came out of the pit with feverish curiosity and 
heating hearts, following Pardoes, who dipped the tin 
plate into the river, shook and washed the earth that was 
in it in such a manner that it flowed away with the water, 
while the gold and stones which were heaviest remained 
at the bottom of the plate. Then he removed the stones 
as well as he could, and went on washing till he was able 
to judge of the quantity of the gold. This labour lasted 
a long time, and the night was already so far advanced 
that Pardoes could hardly see what was at the bottom of 
the plate. 

“Well, well,” said Donatus, trembling with impa- 
tience, “what have we found? Is there gold — much 
gold?” 

“ There is gold !” said the Brusseler, showing them the 
plate. “ Look at the grains glittering in the sand. Much 
or little I cannot judge, because of the darkness. Let us 
light the Are, and we shall see.” 

They all followed him to the side of the tent. Donatus 
was half mad with joy. He had no doubt that they would 


i68 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


find great treasures in a short time, and that he would 
soon he able to quit a country where everything was bad 
and horrible — the gold excepted. AYhen the fire was 
lighted and they could see by the flame from the resinous 
wood what was in the plate, Pardoes grumbled, — 

There is the gold, you see it shining ; but the quantity 
is small. . If we do not find earth which contains more 
numerous and larger grains we shall not earn enough to 
buy our daily food at the stores. Do not he discouraged 
by a first attempt ; this bed of sand is perhaps thick, and 
it may become very rich at the bottom.” 

His companions took up the plate by turns and looked 
with astonishment at the little grains, almost without any 
weight, which shone at the bottom in the light of the 
flames. 

Come, let us coutinue to work for an hour or two 
longer,” said the sailor; ‘‘the darkness will not hinder 
us making a deeper hole.” 

“Work? Work again, now ?” exclaimed the Baron, 
showing his hands, one of which was red with blood. 

“No, no, let us sup, and then lie down as usual,” said 
Pardoes. “ It is not prudent to exhaust in a single day 
all our strength, nor risk making ourselves ill ; we ought 
to labour regularly, so many hours a day, so as to be able 
to work on for a long time.” 

There was nothing to reply to this ; the supper was pre- 
pared and eaten with ferocious appetites. They placed 
the sailor as sentinel, while all the others drew themselves 
under the tent and fell asleep, dreaming of the gold that 
they hoped to find on the morrow. 


THE GOLD DIGGERS. 


169 


The following day, early in the morning, they carried 
the trough to the bank of the river, and placed it upon 
wooden supports, so that it could be easily moved. 

This instrument has somewhat the form of a small 
boat. The upper part consists of a coarse sieve ; below it, 
near the ground, are nailed several laths, crossing 
each other, in the middle of which is an opening. The 
earth with which the gold is mingled is placed upon the 
sieve, and much water poured upon it : it is then violently 
shaken. The sieve retains the stones and pebbles, only 
allowing the sand and auriferous earth to pass through. 
This earth by mixture with the water is changed into 
liquid mud, and with the coarser part of the gravel it 
passes through the opening below, while the grains of 
gold mixed with a little sand remain behind in the laths. 
This is dried in the sun on a plate, then, on blowing 
strongly, the sand is dispersed, and the fine gold remains 
in particles, which somewhat resemble a fish’s scales. 

That morning they worked as eagerly as on the pre- 
vious day, exciting each other by joyous cries ; they ran 
with their load of earth from the pit to the river, shaking 
the trough violently and pouring torrents of water in the 
sieve. Pardoes was the least sanguine of the party. 
When his companions clapped their hands with delight, 
and Donatus danced for joy, he shook his head, and a 
doubtful smile passed over his lips. When the sun had 
risen high in the heavens and the dinner-hour had 
arrived, he ordered the work to cease, and began to 
separate the sand from the gold-dust by blowing upon it. 
His friends were disappointed to see how the glittering 


170 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


grains were reduced by this operation. The Baron 
sighed, the sailor grumbled, Victor looked down despond- | 
ingly, Donatus pouted, while Creps laughed at them all. * 
However, after they had washed several platefuls of sand I 
they obtained a quantity of gold-dust, which Pardoes | 
valued at about two ounces, for which they would receive 
at the stores in money or in goods 28 dollars, or about 
150 francs. 

Kwik expressed contentment, but Victor said sadly, 

‘‘ It doesn’t promise well. At this rate, with such rude 
labour and this dog-like life, we shall in six months 
have amassed 50,000 francs. Hot even 10,000 francs 
apiece ! ” 

“ Don’t lose heart, Victor, my boy,” cried Pardoes. 
‘‘You bother me with you childish calculations. Why, 
nothing at all would remain for us at the end of six 
months. Do you imagine we shan’t eat anything ? Why, 
to keep in good health and preserve our strength, in fact, 
to buy what we require for our food and other necessary 
wants, we ought to find, at least, half an ounce of gold 
a- day each. You appear surprised ! Look, my shoes 
are worn out ; I must buy a new pair. How much do you ; 
think a pair of bad shoes costs at the stores ? Two-thirds I 
of an ounce of gold, more than 50 francs ! It would be i 
a good thing if we each had a pair of water-proof boots, I 
to prevent our catching cold by standing with our feet * 
constantly in the river. Such boots cost about ten ounces } 
of gold, 500 francs!” i! 

All bent down their heads in gloomy disappointment. 1 
Donatus muttered, — i| 


THE GOLD DIGGERS. 


171 

“Ass that you are ! Here is the well-merited reward of 
your silly eagerness for wealth ! Here you must sit 
pining away, thousands of miles from happy Hatten- 
Haesdonck 

“Come, let’s go to dinner,” said the Brusseler. “I’m 
dying of hunger.” 

They ate their dinner in silence, hut with the appetite 
of famishing wolves. Pardoes remarked, towards the 
close of the meal, — 

“You are wrong to be discouraged, comrades, because 
we have not hit on a lucky spot. Gold seeking is like a 
lottery ; there are people who work for months and find 
nothing, and then suddenly, in a single day, light upon a 
large fortune. I knew a man whose only companion was 
his son, and w^lo in a couple of months drew 60,000 
francs worth of nuggets from the same hole. We must 
have patience. If we don’t find gold in sufficient quantity 
here, we won’t waste our time, but go on to the unex- 
plored digging of the Pen river. There are plenty of 
nuggets there, and large ones.” 

“But are you certain to find the place ?” asked Creps. 

“Quite. The Swiss gold seeker described it minutely, 
and sketched out for me on a piece of paper, which 
I have in my pocket, the road thither from the Yuba 
river.” 

“ Why not start at once, then ? ” asked Kwik. 

“Start there!*” cried Pardoes. “To go to an un- 
known digging we must have provisions enough to keep 
us for a whole month. It is at least a week’s jour- 
ney from hence, and there are no stores there; so we 


172 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


can^t go thither till weVe saved some hundreds of 
dollars/’ 

“Well, let us then make a virtue of necessity, and con- | 
tinue our work with fresh courage,” said Creps. Follow- ! 
ing his advice, they shook the sieve so vigorously that by j 
the evening they had collected six ounces of gold as the i 
result of their day’s work. Though it was not a brilliant | 
success, yet their hopes were revived, and they resumed j 
their work next morning full of confidence. 

By noon, however, they had obtained scarcely any- 
thing, and most of them wished to go on to some other 
part of the valley : hut Pardoes would not consent ; he 
said they must dig down as deeply as possible to see if 
they could reach the subterranean rock, where they 
might possibly find nuggets, and be rewarded for 
their labour. 

So they worked on for two whole days, but with such 
ill success that when on the fifth day they collected all 
their gold into a tin plate, it was found to be only about 
a pound’s weight — less than enough for them to live 
upon for a week. 

More and more discouraged they worked on silently 
and in ill-humour. Now and then they exchanged i 
sharp and angry words with each other. Suddenly ' 
Victor, who was in the pit below, called his companions. ' 
All hastened up, fearing lest Eoozeman might have 
been buried by the earth falling in, hut their hearts beat > 
violently when he held up in his hand a nugget as big 
as a bean, exclaiming, in a voice choked by emotion, — 

“ Rejoice, comrades ! the treasure is found ! I’ve ^ 


THE GOLD DIGGERS. 


173 


several pieces of gold like this shining down here in the 
pit ! 

Donatus uttered a cry and sprang wildly down into 
the pit, at the risk of breaking his legs, knocking 
violently against Victor’s shoulder. 

The Baron laughed in a strange way, and talked in a 
whisper of Paris, treasures, and horses. 

They had reached the rock, and Pardoes* prediction 
was realised, for ten nuggets were found in a stratum 
! of chalky stones. Now they searched on with feverish 
I ardour ; they laughed, shouted, sang — their joy knew 
no bounds. The nuggets they found were for the 
imost part very small, the largest about the size of peas. 

Towards evening, when the pit was quite emptied 
out, they examined the nuggets they had collected, and 
asked the Brusseler to value them. He estimated their 
worth to he at least 1800 francs. 

The others received this announcement with noisy 
applause. K^ik and the sailor, notwithstanding their 
fatigue, began to dance and sing as if they were at a 
village fair. 

Cease that folly ! ” cried Pardoes, and listen to 
what I have to say. It is as foolish to he carried away 
by excess of joy as it is to hang down your heads at the 
least reverse of fortune. We have worked this week 
like horses, we can’t continue to do so; suppose we 
reckon these five days of work as six ; with our gold- 
dust and the nuggets together we have amassed lbs. 
of gold, that is 40 oz. If we use 20 oz. a- week for our 
provisions, cofiee and tobacco inclulcd, 20 oz. remain 


174 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


to us. That, at the end of a season of six months, 
would only make 7000 francs a-piece. You see there 
is no reason for this great rejoicing.’’ 

But we know that the nuggets are there under the 
ground, and we shall unearth them,” murmured the 
sailor. 

** Very well, that’s my idea too ; but remember, we 
may have to work for a whole week to reach them, 
and possibly not find any after all. The place may 
not he good enough for us to make our fortune here, 
still it may supply us with the necessary resources for 
our journey to the unexplored diggings of the Pen 
river.” 

After supper was over, the Brusseler remarked 
further, — 

‘‘To-morrow, friends, we will repose. They don’t 
work on Sunday at the diggings. The gold seekers on 
that day generally visit the stores and have a better 
dinner than usual. It is their custom, too, to divide 
the gold they have found equally among them ; hut as 
we have in our party some who drink more than is good 
for them, I propose that you let me take charge of the 
gold for as long a time as we are near the stores, other- 
wise our good resolution to save may come to nought.” 

The sailor grumbled a little, for he knew this 
measure was directed against himself; but he sub- 
mitted at last, while the others quite approved of 
Pardoes’ proposal. 


( 175 ) 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


LYNCH LAW. 



T was late when the gold seekers breakfasted 
next morning, but a long sleep had done them 
much good, and they were all in a very 
cheerful humour. 

Just as they were about to start for the stores, 
Donatus went to look for the mule, which he said he 
would ride, to give it a little exercise. The others 
had nothing to say against it, so five of them started, 
the lots having decided that the Baron should guard 
the tent. 

The mule, which had for five days been grazing in 
a good pasture, was very lively, and showed a strange 
disposition to gallop. Donatus had no little trouble to 
hold him back, and was always a long way ahead of 
his friends. After walking about half an hour they 
reached the road which led from the different diggings 
to the stores ; here were many gold seekers, either 
going in the same direction as themselves, or returning 
to their tents, laden with provisions. They seemed for 
the most part quiet and good-humoured. This so em- 
boldened Donatus that he allowed the mule to gallop 



176 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


for some minutes, and thus got at least a quarter of a 
league in advance of his companions. 

This proceeding was to have a most unexpected 
result. The mule, having reached a certain spot, 
turned his head on all sides as if he smelt or heard 
something extraordinary. Then he began to gallop 
without heeding either the bridle or the voice of his 
rider. Notwithstanding all Kwik’s efforts, the obstinate 
animal flew rapidly onwards. 

On turning round a mountain-side, Donatus saw the 
stores and the great crowds assembled before them. 
He shouted and pulled at the mule, to stop it ; but the 
beast, listening to nothing, led him right through the 
crowd, up to a corn-dealer’s store, where he suddenly 
stopped. 

What can the stupid animal have in its head ? ” 
grumbled Kwik. ‘‘I suppose he wants to have some 
dry provender, but that shan’t come under his nose ; 
he would soon eat the worth of two ounces of gold.” 

Saying these words he jumped off the mule, and tried 
to drag it away from the store ; but at that moment a 
hideous woman appeared from the further end of the 
tent, and, raising her arms, she exclaimed in English, — 
I declare ! it is our old Uncle Jack ! Here is our 
poor cousin William’s murderer! The animal knows 
his stable — he has betrayed the wretch ! ” 

And whilst Kwik, who did not understand a word, 
was gazing about with an astonished air, she cried and 
howled so loudly that a crowd of men hastened up from 
the other stores. 


LYNCH LAW* 


177 

The woman related, with tears in her eyes, that a 
fortnight ago her cousin had started for Sacramento, 
with two other muleteers, to buy flour; that on the 
way they had been attacked by brigands, who had 
treacherously murdered her cousin William. William’s 
mule now stood at the tent-door, and, doubtless, his 
murderer too. 

A man sprang upon Donatus, seized him by the collar, 
and shook him rudely, while he whispered in his ear 
in French, — 

‘‘ Ah, rogue ! Through you I was sent into the 
‘ lion’s den ’ on board the Jonas ! Now, your last hour 
has come ! ” 

And then he began to shout in English, “ Lynch law ! 
Lynch law ! A rope ! A rope ! To the gallows with the 
murderer ! ” 

Kwik tried to justify himself in all the languages he 
knew. 

I bon gar9on — good boy. Donderwetter, Christian> 

I Donatus Kwik.” 

His strange jargon made some of those present laugh ; 
but the vindictive woman brought a rope, and in the 
twinkling of an eye the red moustache had thrown a 
slip knot round the poor fellow’s neck. 

“Bring that empty barrel!” he cried. “We will 
hang him on that pole yonder ! ” 

Kwik was lifted upon the barrel. The red mous- 
tache stood up behind him, and tied the end of the rope 
to the cross-bar on the top of the pole. 

Donatus, when he saw that it was a serious matter, 

M 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


178 

and that he could not defend himself against the furious ' 
crowd, which demanded his immediate death, threw 
himself on his knees upon the barrel, and began to pray, 
raising his eyes, filled with tears, to Heaven. ■ 

"When he felt the knot round his throat, he mur- 
mured, — 

0 Lord, have pity on my poor soul ! Adieu, Anne- ' 
ken ! Adieu until we meet in another world ! ” 

This attitude, and the real devotion that could be 
read upon the wretched face of Donatus, inspired some 
of the bystanders with pity. Five or six advanced, and ; 
cried to the red moustache,— 

Stop ! stop ! It is not thus that Lynch law should ! 
be applied ! Give the unfortunate man time to iustify ' 
himself.’^ 

‘‘ Hang him ! Hang him ! cried other voices. i 

But those who were opposed to the immediate exe- i 
cution drew out their revolvers, and said, — ; 

According to Lynch law the people judge. We are 1 
the people, and we will judge I” ; 

The red moustache, who feared a bullet, remained 
standing on the barrel with the rope in his hand. 

Donatus was questioned in two or three different 
languages by his protectors to try and find out how ' 
he got possession of the mule ; hut the only thing they ' 
could make out from his answers was, that he had found s 
it. The terrified young man wept and sobbed aloud, 
and his strange language did not thereby become more ! 
intelligible. 

Suddenly, the brother of the murdered man rushed 


LYNCH LA W. 


179 


from a distant store, and demanded, in furious terms, 
the immediate death of the guilty man. 

His protectors, convinced that they could not obtain 
any satisfactory explanations to clear the accused, ceased 
to defend him, and retired. 

In an instant the red moustache had tied the rope 
to the post, and had already raised his foot to launch 
his innocent victim into eternity, when suddenly a ter- 
rible cry of horror burst from behind the crowd of 
spectators. A young man with light hair, followed by 
three other tall fellows, jumped into the circle; by a 
movement quick as lightning, he drew a knife out of his 
belt, cut the rope, and pressed in his arms the supposed 
assassin with every sign of affection. 

‘‘ Ha ! ha ! cried Creps, pointing his pistol at the 
red moustache. “ You would he the executioner of this 
poor Donatus? Make the slightest movement, and I 
will stretch you dead on the earth, like a dog, that 
you are ! ” 

There was a great disturbance in the crowd; some 
would have liked to see Lynch law take its course ; 
others took the side of Donatus and his comrades. 

It seemed very probable that knives and pistols would 
he produced, and that a bloody combat would ensue. 

But Eoozeman, who still held his friend in his arms, 
was deeply roused at the danger which threatened him. 
He advanced into the centre of the circle, and said in 
very good English, — 

‘‘ Gentlemen, I pray you let me speak for a momenta 
You will, I know, be grateful to me afterwards ; for I 


i8o OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 

shall save you from doing an act of injustice which men 
of honour such as you are would not deliberately 
commit. You shall judge: we will quietly submit to 
your decision. May I speak ? ” 

His hearers were touched, less by what he said than 
by the pleasant tone of his voice. 

Speak ! speak ! they cried from all sides. 

Then Eoozeman, in short but telling words, related 
with touching eloquence how they had found the mule 
on their journey; how they had saved John Miller from 
a certain death, and how they had seen the very man 
who was now standing on the barrel about to wreak 
his vengeance on an innocent victim, by acting as his 
executioner, in the society of a band of bushrangers. He 
told them, too, how John Miller had declared to them 
that this was the very same man who had shot him in 
the foot. 

This speech, although it did not actually prove the 
innocence of the accused, made a favourable impression 
on most of those present; but a half-drunken fellow 
now got up to speak. With many jokes he excited 
general laughter among the crowd, and asserted that 
all that was to be gathered from the words of the pre- 
vious orator was, that there were now two bushrangers 
to hang, instead of one. Most of those present applauded 
this sentiment. Ill-omened cries arose from all sides, 
and there was a decided wish to hang Donatus, as well 
as the red moustache. 

Suddenly, a man, whose costume showed him to be 
a muleteer, pushed his way through the crowd, and 


LYNCH LA W, 


i8i 


shouted, in a voice which overpowered every other 
sound, — 

‘‘Gentlemen, I was with poor 'William when the 
bushrangers attacked us. The fellow who shot my 
poor friend through the breast was none other than that 
rascal with the red moustaches. I remember him well, 
and I will stake my life on the truth of my words.’^ 

A storm of cries for vengeance arose from the crowd. 

“ The executioner to the gallows ! Kill the red mous- 
tache ! To the rope with the bushranger ! resounded 
on all sides. 

Perceiving that Creps had turned his eyes away from 
him, the red moustache sprang to the ground and fled 
away among the tents; but a great number of gold 
seekers followed him, shouting, and just as he reached 
the foot of the rocks, he fell lifeless, pierced by a dozen 
bullets. 

The crowd now rapidly dispersed, and each man went 
on his way, as if nothing of any importance had 
happened. 

Donatus was very sad : by a special intervention of 
Providence, his life had been preserved; but he had 
lost his beloved mule, as its owners had led it away into 
their tent. He saw the animal in the distance, gazing 
sadly after him. 

His friends had no little difficulty in persuading him 
to follow them. Tears started to his eyes as he mur- 
mured a sad farewell to the mule. 

“ What are we to do ? said Victor ; “ how can we 
pursue our journey to those unexplored diggings without 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


182 

a beast of burden to carry our stock of provisions for 
a whole month? Shall we ask if we may buy the 
mule ?^' 

Impossible ; it would cost too much/’ said Pardoes. 

Just then a man clapped him on the shoulder, and 
said, — 

Gentlemen, my wife don’t want that mule any 
longer : it reminds her too much of poor William, who 
was so miserably murdered. Buy it ; you shall have it 
for thirty dollars.” 

Done ! ” said the Brusseler, following the man to 
his store to pay him. 

Before the money was paid, Donatus hastened up, 
weeping for joy, with his dumb friend now restored to 
him. He talked to it, and caressed it with such delight, 
that the storekeeper could not contain himself, and burst 
out laughing. 

The Flemings purchased a week’s provisions at the 
same store : with these they loaded the mule, which had 
now a better bridle. To pay for all this Pardoes was 
obliged to open his leather belt and take out a few 
nuggets ; but he concealed them as much as possible, 
for he heard cries of astonishment around him, and saw 
the eyes of four or five men glaring enviously at his 
hands. 

‘‘ Comrades,” he said, we shall do well to return to 
the tent at once. The red moustache may have friends, 
and a pistol-shot is soon fired: moreover, I observe 
many faces here that don’t please me. Come, let us 
be off.” 


LYNCH LA W. 


183 

His advice was followed. At half a league from 
their encampment he stopped, and said in a low voice, — 
I believe those three men walking behind us yonder, 
are following in our footsteps.” 

They are only three,” remarked Creps ; they would 
he very foolhardy if they dared to attack us.” 

If they are really following us,” said Pardoes, that 
is not their intention. I think I recognise one of them 
as a fellow who was standing beside me when I was 
paying at the store. Their object is to know where we 
found our nuggets. If they succeed in this we shall 
have them for our companions to-morrow. We have 
plenty of time ; we won’t make for our tent yet, but 
wander here and there among the mountains, and thus 
tire our spies out. Come along ; this way 1 ” 


( i84 ) 


CHAPTER XXV. 

THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 

EXT day, while the Flemish gold seekers were 
busy digging a new pit, they suddenly per- 
ceived about thirty men, with sacks and tools 
on their backs, tall fellows, advancing towards them. 

Didn’t I tell you so ? ” growled Pardoes. Here 
are our new companions ; those spies tracked us yester- 
day, notwithstanding our eifforts to mislead them. 
Xothing can be done ; they are in their right. We can 
only demand a claim thirty feet long.” 

The new band at once pitched their tents at the 
foot of the rocks. It was composed of five or six 
companies, each of which chose a claim and began to 
dig. This did not hinder Pardoes and his friends from 
actively continuing their work. It was night before 
they reached the gold earth, but next day they obtained 
very fair results. This pit was richer than the former 
one, and they got more gold out of the sieve. On the 
fourth day they reached the rock, where, to their great 
delight, they found a great many little nuggets, which 
altogether were of considerable value. 

But they were annoyed by the constant increase of 




THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 185 

new-comers to their diggings. Nearly every hour a 
fresh hand descended the rocks. Since Monday morn- 
ing this valley had swarmed with gold seekers, and now 
at night, revolver in hand, they were obliged to make 
the limits of their claim respected. It was not a large 
valley, and a great portion of it was too elevated and 
too stony for any possibility of getting gold out of it. 
The crowd of diggers was, therefore, confined to a com- 
paratively small space. Here and there quarrels arose, 
pistols were fired and knives brandished, for some of the 
new-comers tried to penetrate to claims already occupied, 
and they were naturally driven back by the owners. 
The Flemings were closely surrounded, and as they 
found that their claim was only productive at a certain 
distance from the river, they felt sure it would soon he 
exhausted. Their only hope was that they might be 
fortunate enough to collect sufficient resources to under- 
take their journey, to the unexplored diggings. 

On the pretext that their mule did not find sufficient 
forage in the valley they pitched their tent on a height, 
and out of sight of the other gold seekers. They began 
to purchase their provisions secretly, one of them going 
alone every day to the stores by circuitous paths, and 
bringing back a load of corn, salt meat, and lard. 

These precautions were needful to hide their intentions 
from the others, for had these suspected that they 
were preparing for a long journey into the interior, 
many would have followed them. In fact, as they knew 
that they had been the first to discover the present spot, 
they might fancy that they had some experience in such 


i86 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


matters, or possessed peculiar information to guide 
them. 

The last provision brought to their tent was a stock 
of salt, and enough gunpowder to fill each of their 
flasks. 

Next morning, an hour before dawn, the mule was 
loaded in the wood, the tent was taken down, and the 
Flemings began their journey, quietly and without 
noise. No one had any suspicion of their departure. 

For two days they managed to keep the course of the 
Yuba, then they forded it, and marched northward to 
reach the Pen Fiver. It was very difficult to keep in a 
fixed direction, for their route was often interrupted by 
mountains, thousands of feet in height, and by torrents 
of great depth and force. Often they lost hours in 
seeking for a way through these mountain chains; some- 
times they had to unload the mule to allow him to 
descend a dangerous precipice or scale some steep 
rocks. 

They made, therefore, but slow progress, and on the 
seventh day were convinced that they had not advanced 
more than forty leagues from the Yuba stores. 

The Baron, who was much fatigued, began to 
grumble, and accused Pardoes of rashness; hut the 
latter, who was certain that he was in the right, 
laughed at his remarks, and said that he would soon 
acknowledge that he had done well in undertaking the 
journey. 

Koozeman and Kwik showed more confidence and 
courage. They felt that the spot to which Pardoes 


THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 


187 


was leading them might enable them to realise those 
hopes which had led them to California, — hopes of 
making happy and independent those who were dearest 
to them in the world. This gave them courage to 
contend with the difficulties and dangers of the way. 
They were glad, too, to he far away from the crowd of 
wild and savage men, from whose lips they heard little 
hut curses and blasphemies. 

For five days they had seen not a creature; they were 
certainly in a desert which had not yet been explored by 
the crowd of gold seekers, for they had seen no traces of 
any hut wild animals. The only noise they heard, 
and which rather frightened Donatus at first, was the 
howling of coyoteSf a sort of wild dog, which at night 
made the valleys re-echo with their dismal yells. But 
Pardoes had explained to him that these cowardly 
animals never attack man, or, still less, approach a 
fire. Donatus, too, was getting more inured to danger, 
and was not now so easily frightened. 

Exhausted, weary, footsore, on the tenth day they 
pitched their tent, an hour before sunset, in a wide 
valley, upon the confines of a thick forest, so that the 
mule could find abundant forage during the night. 

It was now not only the Baron who murmured 
against Pardoes : Creps and the sailor had joined with 
him, expressing their discontent in bitter words. The 
Brusseler had told them that they would arrive at these 
diggings in a week, and they had now marched ten 
days without stopping, yet there seemed no signs of 
reaching their journey^s end ; perhaps, indeed, they 


i88 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


would never find the place which Pardoes had been told 
about. 

Pardoes defended himself by saying that it was 
impossible to fix within a day or two, when mountains 
and valleys intervened, the duration of a journey. He 
was sure they must he in the right direction, because 
the gigantic chain of the Sierra Nevada bounded the 
horizon to the eastward. They must not be discouraged, 
but await, for three or four days longer, the result of 
their enterprise. 

They had nothing to fear with regard to the exhaus- 
tion of their provisions, for, in case of necessity, they 
could, in a country which abounded with game, support 
themselves by the chase. Up to this moment he had 
forbidden his companions to fire, so as not to betray 
their presence. 

They were never sure whether there were not 
enemies around them, either robbers or Californian 
savages; but, if it were necessary, they could shoot 
birds, hares, or deer, and thus save their provisions. 

Whilst they were discussing their position, they 
suddenly heard in the forest, at about fifty paces off, a 
howl so formidable that the whole valley seemed to 
tremble. It was a hollow growl, dull and prolonged, 
like the distant rumbling of thunder. 

All turned pale, jumped up, and stared at the 
Brusseler, as if to learn from his mouth what new and 
terrible danger threatened them. 

‘‘ They are lions ! ’’ stammered Donatus. 

‘'No, it is a grizzly (the grey bear of California) 


THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 189 

which is attacking our mule, and which has perhaps 
already begun to devour it.” 

Come, come ! ” said Kwik ; bear or no hear, I 
will not leave the poor beast to be murdered.” 

But the Brusseler took him by the shoulder and held 
him back, growling out, — 

‘‘ Keep still ! Hold your tongue, stupid ! ” 

“ That is all very fine,” said Victor ; ** but tell us at 
least what we ought to do.” 

“ What we ought to do ! I confess I do not know 
myself. It is a dangerous animal. He will sometimes 
remain alive and in full strength with ten bullets in his 
body. Keep as quiet as possible, my friends ; perhaps 
the monster will have enough in the mule to satisfy 
himself, and will return to his lair after having dined.” 

“But which of us can sleep with such a terrible 
neighbour ? ” 

A new and more terrible howl resounded through the 
forest, as if the bear were approaching the tent. 

“ Wait,” said Pardoes, “ I know a way ! I will walk 
on in front, and climb up a tree, from whence I will fire 
at the bear ; he will come after me and stand upright 
against the tree to seize me. At that moment you 
must fire altogether, aiming at his head ; then you must 
all rush upon him, draw your knives and plunge them 
up to the hilt in his breast or stomach. Follow me 
about ten paces distant, and do not fire too quickly, nor 
retreat a foot’s breadth, or else there will be two or 
three deaths among you.” 

He slipped oif into the wood, trying to judge of the 


igo 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


distance by the growls, and climbed up to a moderate 
height on a pine-tree. His comrades were hidden 
about six yards distant in the bushes, holding their 
fingers to the triggers of their guns. 

Soon the report of a gun was heard; the ball had 
evidently done its work, for a howl of pain and rage 
resounded in the forest, and immediately afterwards the 
shrubs were pushed aside, as if broken by a furious and 
gigantic animal. 

In fact the grizzly bear had discovered his enemy, 
who, to engage his attention, was waving his hat in the 
air. 

With one bound the bear reached the tree, stood up 
against it, putting out his claws, raising a horrible 
growl, and licking the bark of the tree with his 
terrible red tongue, as if he already scented another 
victim. 

Then a loud report was heard, and five bullets struck 
the monster, who fell back with pain and surprise ; but 
he recovered himself quickly, cast a look of fury at his 
new foes, and rushed howling upon them. The sailor, 
for whom the bear was making, was seized with fright, 
and fled to take refuge in a tree. The furious animal, 
covered with blood, seemed as if he had no fear of the 
glittering knives, and ran after the sailor. 

He came up to him just at the foot of the tree, and 
seized him between his large forepaws and was about to 
strangle him, with a horrible roar> when happily, at the 
same instant, five knives were plunged into his sides at 
the same moment, and doubtless Donatus, with his long 


THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 


191 

Catalonian knife, kad reacted his heart, for the hear 
turned round again as if to seize him, but the instant 
after fell on the ground, where he remained stretched 
out and dead. 

Donatus ran to the spot where they had first heard 
the growlings, and found the half- devoured remains of 
the poor mule in a large pool of blood. He shed many 
tears over the body of the unfortunate animal, and then 
returning to his companions told them with bitter 
lamentations of the sad end of his faithful companion. 

All were much affected; they felt what a narrow 
escape they had had, while the loss of the mule deeply 
troubled them. In the midst of a desert, perhaps 
a hundred miles from any inhabited spot, with their 
strength exhausted, they would now have to carry the 
tools and provisions on their backs. Sad and difficult as 
their journey had hitherto been, how much more pain- 
ful and discouraging was the prospect before them now ! 

An hour after, all were rolled up in their blankets 
under the tent. The Brusseler acted as sentinel, and 
carefully kept up the fire to frighten away savage 
beasts, if there were any still in the neighbourhood. He 
glanced into the tent to be sure that his companions 
were still asleep. By the light of the fire he saw that 
Donatus’ cheeks were wet and shining. 

Simple fellow ! ” he muttered, Crying in his sleep 
at the death of an animal ! It might be at the prospect 
of having to carry the trough on his back ; but no, it is 
out of pure affection.” 


( 192 ) 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE WILDERNESS. 

CCORBINQ- to their custom, the man whose 
turn it was to cook got up an hour earlier 
than the rest to prepare the breakfast, and 
did not awaken his companions till that meal was ready. 

It happened that it was Pardoes’ turn that morning. 
He was specially careful to make no noise, lighted a 
large fire, and hung the saucepan over it. He smiled 
and chuckled to himself as if he cherished some secret. 
When he saw that the fire was burning well, he drew his 
knife from his belt, and went towards the wood. 

When he reached the bear’s carcase he cut off its 
four paws, hastily skinned them, and then hung them 
over the flames, suspended to the branch of a tree, to 
grill them, powdering them well with salt and pepper. 
He was very merry, rubbed his hands, and smacked his 
lips, murmuring, — 

‘‘How surprised they’ll be when they wake up! 
Bear’s paws for breakfast! It is a royal dainty. In 
the desert they will eat it with better appetite, than at 
the best hotel in Brussels.” 

When the bear’s paws were properly cooked, he cried 




THE WILDERNESS, 


193 


at the opening of the tent, Get up ! get up, friends ! 
the table is laid. I have got a piece of game for 
you, which will make you lick your fingers afterwards, 
I’m certain.” 

They all got up. 

' “What is it that smells so good?” muttered Kwik 
as he rubbed his eyes. “Have you caught a hare 
Pardoes ? ” 

“Yes, such a big hare that his paws are enough to 
: give you a fit of indigestion.” 

But when Donatus glanced at the tin plate he recoiled 
^ with disgust, exclaiming, — 

“Why, those are the bear’s paws ! the horrible animal 
who was about to devour us yesterday ! How cruel of 
you, Pardoes, thus to mock our poor stomachs ! I feel 
ill at the sight of it.” 

The Brusseler tried to convince his friends that 
nothing could he more delicious than the dish he had 
prepared for them. The Baron, the sailor, and Creps 
were persuaded to partake of it, and asserted that 
bears’ fiesh was excellent. Victor at last was also 
induced to accept half a paw, which Creps pressed upon 
him ; but Donatus, seizing him by the arm, said im- 
ploringly, — 

“ Oh, Mr. Eoozeman, I beg you, don’t eat any of that 
horrible animal ! He wished to devour us, and has pro- 
bably eaten other men.” 

“You are really very silly, Kwik,” said Victory 
smiling. “ Meat is meat, and this is very good, and not 
unwholesome.” 

N 


194 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


‘‘Not unwliolesome ! ” exclaimed Donatus. “Eat it, 
and you will see. Without knowing it, you will become 
malicious, ill-tempered, cruel ” 

All burst out laughing. 

“What absurd ideas come into your brain!” said 
Pardoes. “ Men’s characters changing according to the 
food they take ! We haven’t eaten anything but bacon 
lately, so we ought to have become as dirty and unclean 
as pigs.” 

Kwik examined his companions and then himself 
from head to foot, and then replied, grumbling, — 

“ I do not know whether the bacon is the cause of 
it, hut it’s certain that in Belgium they wouldn’t touch 
us with a pair of tongs. I looked at myself yesterday 
in the Baron’s pocket-mirror : the savage I saw there 
had an ugly, stubbly beard, and dust and grease were so 
mixed together on his face that I nearly let the little 
glass drop with disgust. If Anneken, of Natten Haes- 
donck, met such a terrible fellow, she would run away, 
crying out for help !” 

“ Come ! come I Eat a bear’s paw,” said Creps : “ it’s 
really very good.” 

“I eat of a monster that devoured my poor mule ? 
I would rather starve,” cried Kwik. He hastily fried 
himself a piece of bacon, while his companions devoured 
the bear’s paws to the very bone. 

“You may laugh, gentlemen,” said Donatus, “but 
you will see what will be the consequence. I shan’t be 
surprised to find you tearing out each other’s eyes even 
to-day. I warn you, that you may fight ; I shall not 


THE WILDERNESS. 


195 


mix up in your disputes. The Ostender has no need to 
eat of that monster to 

^‘Rascal ! how dare you say that roared the sailor, 
darting up, his knife in his hand. 

‘‘ There, gentlemeu, is an example of it already ! ’’ 
groaned Kwik. ‘‘ He does not know what I was going 
to say, and yet he wants to murder me ! ’’ 

All hurst out laughing ; but Pardoes now put an end 
to this chaff by reminding his companions that they 
must resume their journey. The sun was already 
, shining in a cloudless sky ; it would probably be very 
hot towards noon. 

Each took a portion of the tools on his back. It was 
Roozeman’s lot to carry the sieve, but Donatus, not- 
! withstanding Victor’s protestations, insisted on taking it 
himself. 

They were tolerably cheerful for a couple of hours. 
The Baron alone was silent, and seemed full of sad and 
gloomy thoughts. About noon they were all Very much 
fatigued ; they had arrived at the foot of a chain of steep 
mountains, which barred their route as far as they could 
see. But there was nothing else to be done — these 
heights must be crossed. After resting about a quarter 
of an hour they looked for the easiest spot, and then 
scrambled over enormous rocks to the summit of the 
mountain, where they sank down breathless with ex* 
haustion. When they arose to continue their journey, a 
secret horror seized them. They saw before them a 
range of mountains, several leagues in breadth, whose 
rocky soil seemed burned by subterranean fires or by the 


Ol^F TO CALIFORNIA, 


lg6 

rays of the sun ; for, as far as the eye could reach, not a 
flower or a tree was to be seen in this vast desert. 

What is this ? ’’ sighed Donatus. ‘‘ I am frightened ! 
Have we arrived at the end of the world ? ” 

Pardoes, did the Swiss gold seeker tell you about 
this desert ? asked Creps. 

Ho/* 

‘‘ Then we have lost our way ! Pleasant news ! ** 

‘‘ We can*t lose our way here,** replied Pardoes ; ‘‘ as 
long as we have the gigantic chain of the Sierra Nevada . 
to our right we must he on the right road. By con- 
stantly advancing we cannot fail to reach the diggings. : 
They are situated on a large river, which descends from 1 
the Sierra Nevada, and so it must be on our way ; we , 
could not avoid it if we tried. There is certainly some- > 
thing in this desert to inspire dread, and under this burn- ' 
iug sun we shall probably sufier from the heat ; but as ' 
we have come so far, we must keep on our way steadily. 
Perhaps we shall find some ravines, which we can*t see 
from here. Come, friends, don*t lose courage ; to-morrow 
we shall perhaps reach the gold field, and then be amply 
repaid for all our sufferings.** 

Again they set forth through the bare and solitary 
wilderness. The sun dashed his fiery rays down upon 
their heads, which, radiating from the bare rock, re* 
doubled the heat, and made the air feel like a furnace. 

After two hours* weary march the travellers were well- 
nigh exhausted ; silent> gloomy, and discouraged, they 
slowly advanced over the plain. The Baron appeared 
ready to sink beneath his burden ; and, absorbed in his 


THE WILDERNESS. 


197 


sad thoughts, ho often forgot himself, and remained 
behind. The sailor took a cruel pleasure in mocking at 
and annoying him. He had hitherto replied to these 
insults by a smile of contempt ; but when he reproached 
him with his high birth and his bodily weakness, the 
gentleman could stand it no longer. 

He turned pale, threw down his knapsack, seized his 
revolver, and cried in fury, — 

Stop, gentlemen; I command you ! ” 

‘‘Well! well! what is the matter? What do you 
waht?’' stammered the others with amazement. “What 
are you about to do ?^^ 

“ This coarse fellow is making fun of my sufferings ; 
he thinks that a gentleman in the position in which I 
unfortunately find myself, can be insulted with impunity. 
This is not the case. I might kill him with a bullet ; 
I should only have to make a slight movement of my 
finger to do so, but I recoil from committing a murder. 
I defy him. He shall fight a duel with me, however. 
One of us two shall leave his bones in the desert ! ” 

The others ran in between them to prevent the fight ; 
but the Baron several times repeated the word “ coward,” 
and the sailor, held back by Pardoes, declared that he 
would tear the gentleman in pieces. 

“ Ho pistols! ” roared the Ostender. “A conflict to the 
death with knives is best. It will last longer, and more 
blood will flow.” 

“ Yery well, knives then ! ” replied the Baron, whose 
cheeks were deadly pale, and whose fiery eyes seemed 
as if they would start out of their sockets. 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


198 

Alas ! alas ! cried Donatus. They are about to 
murder each other in this terrible wilderness ! The 
Baron, who was patience itself, has lost his senses, and 
become mad. This dreadful affair all comes of eating 
bear’s flesh.” 

‘‘To arms! To arms!” cried Pardoes; “here are Cali- 
fornian savages ! ” 

This terrible exclamation made them forget their 
quarrel ; each one hurriedly seized his gun, and looked 
with surprise, mingled with uneasiness, in the direction 
to which the Brusseler was pointing. 

“ Savages ! ” cried Kwik, trembling like a reed. 
“Savages! Ah, where can we hide ourselves? None 
can help us but the good God ! ” 

In fact, they perceived, several miles off, on their 
right, about ten men walking among the crags of the 
mountains, and Pardoes knew them to be savages by 
their long, floating hair, and almost naked bodies. He 
gave his friends long explanations, and tried to persuade 
them that these men were a threatening danger to them. 
Ilis wish was to turn the thoughts of his companions 
from their quarrel ; but the Baron, perceiving this, 
said, — 

“ These savages are more than two leagues’ march 
from us; they have not seen us, and will disappear 
behind the mountains. Take your knife in your hand, 
Ostender ! ” 

“Ah! you will massacre each other, even at this 
moment, when we are threatened by an attack from 
Californian savages ! Very well, we shall see,” said 


THE WILDERNESS, 


199 


the Brusseler in a great rage. ‘^Eoozeman, Creps, 
Donatus, are you going to obey me, to save our lives ? 
Yes ? Point your guns at the sailor ; I will guard the 
Baron.” 

With these words, he advanced some paces, saying, 
with an air of authority, — 

Baron, you made an agreement with us ; you are 
not your own master. I declare to you that this duel is 
a breach of our contract, because it must deprive us of 
one of our comrades, at a moment when the lives of all 
may depend upon the help of one. The first of you 
who again defies the other I will kill without mercy. 
This, at all events, will be a means of not losing any 
more precious time here.” 

Pardoes exchanged a few angry words with the sailor 
in a low voice. This seemed to quiet him ; he walked 
towards the gentleman, and said, — 

Listen, Baron ; I do not wish to risk my friends^ 
lives. To satisfy you, I admit that I was wrong, and I 
ask pardon for my hasty words.” 

Victor took the Baron by the hand, and tried to calm 
him by expressions of his esteem and friendship; Donatus 
joined him, and they both besought him so earnestly that 
he was at last overcome, and said, — 

Be it so ! let us speak no more of it. This rude fel- 
low shall have no further opportunity of insulting me.” 
Come on, then, my friends,” said the Brusseler. 

I remain here,” said the Baron, sitting down on the 
ground. 

Have you gone mad ? ” said Pardoes. 


200 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


JSTo,” he replied, I am at the end of my strength ; 
my feet are one great blister ; I must rest. You can 
continue your road, gentlemen. It is the same to me 
whether I am killed by the Californian savages or perish, 
like a beast, under a burden which I cannot carry any 
longer.’^ 

He took off one of his shoes : the blood was really 
flowing from his foot. 

Well, remain there ! ’’ said Pardoes, angrily. 

shall not proceed without our companion,” said 
Victor, who had pity on the poor gentleman’s condition. 

If you or I, or another of us fell ill, or could not walk, 
surely we should not leave him to certain death, like men 
without any feelings of humanity.” 

I shan’t move either,” said Donatus. 

“We will all stay here then,” said Creps in his turn. 

“ Well, let us rest a little, then,” said the Brusseler. 
“Before coming to California, folk ought to know 
whether they have legs strong enough to take a 
journey.” 

Victor began to wash the Baron’s foot and to wrap it 
up in a piece of rag. 

The Baron, after a short interval of rest, declared that 
now, thanks to his kind friends, he thought he could con- 
tinue his journey; so they all shouldered their knapsacks 
again and advanced into the desert. 

The gold seekers now were all weary and silent ; they 
only spoke to lament the lack of water, for they had 
nearly emptied their leather gourds, and there was 
scarcely half-a-pint left among them. During the after- 


THE WILDERNESS, 


201 


noon even this was exhausted, while the sun continued as 
scorching as ever, and the atmosphere so suffocating that 
they could scarcely breathe. The boundless desert still 
stretched before the travellers; not a tree was to be seen, 
and not a trace of water on the parched and barren 
ground. 

Every now and then they had to stop to rest. On 
these occasions they would murmur loudly against Par- 
does. 

Towards evening, though it was not quite so hot, their 
fatigue had increased, and all were suffering terribly 
from thirst. Perceiving no limit to the wilderness, they 
feared they must pass the night upon this plain, without 
any hopes of quenching their thirst, and he forced to 
begin their journey next day under a torrid heat, and 
without a drop of water. 

In fact, the sailor, the Baron, and Creps refused to go 
any further. Pardoes asserted that they could not he 
far from a river ; there was a visible downward slope in 
the soil now ; and, calculating from the direction of the 
mountains, which on all sides bounded the horizon, he 
predicted that in a couple of hours they would doubtless 
find water. 

Holding out this hope to his companions, he suc- 
ceeded, after a long rest, in persuading them to proceed. 

After another half-hour’s painful march, Pardoes, rais- 
ing a cry, suddenly threw himself on the ground. The 
others rushed towards him, thinking that he had a fit ; 
hut he said, in a trembling voice, — 

“ Silence ! silence, friends ! Let me listen ! ” 


202 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


After having applied his ear to the ground for several 
minutes, he sprang up, and exclaimed, — I 

Hurrah ! hurrah ! Water ! water ! 

Where? where ?’^ stammered the others, not under- i 
standing what Pardoes meant. ; 

Yonder, before us— a cascade ; I hear it falling from 
the mountains.’’ 

Donatus now put his head to the ground. It’s true ! 
it’s true ! The good God be praised ! ” 

The gold seekers now hurried on in the direction where 
they hoped to find water. 

Kwik, who was in front, suddenly started hack with a 
cry of horror, and flung himself heavily on his hack. 

What is it ? What have you seen? ’’asked the others, 
terrified. 

‘‘ Oh, friends,” stammered he, a precipice ! If my 
guardian angel had not held me back I should now have ' 
been lying some 600 feet below.” 

They had come to a fearful precipice, out of which, 
about fifty yards from them, the cascade rushed from a 
crevice in the rock, and fell into the narrow valley 
below. 

But the travellers regarded this with transports of joy, 
for, notwithstanding the darkness^ they saw a large 
stream, which came from the waterfall, shining along 
the valley like a silver streak. 

Might not this be the Swiss gold seeker’s diggings ? ” 
asked the sailor. 

'"No,” replied Pardoes; <Gt is situated in a broad 
valley, and there is no cascade near it ; hut this stream j 


THE WILDERNESS. 


203 


is a sign that we are approaching it, for it probably flows 
into the river on the hanks of which the diggings are 
situated. In any case there is water down yonder, which 
is more valuable to us than gold. The most difflcult 
thing is to find a way by which to get down this huge 
precipice. Come, I think I have found it. There, near 
the trees, we shall probably find a passage.” 

Pardoes was right. At the spot to which he pointed 
a great portion of the mountain had crumbled down into 
the valley, and had formed a slope by which they might 
attempt a descent. 

The darkness made this very dangerous. They had 
scarcely gone a few steps when the sailor slipped on the 
rock, and he would have fallen over the edge had not 
Crops seized him by his clothes. A similar accident 
happened to the Baron, and he was saved by Donatus. 
After great difficulties they at last succeeded in reaching 
the bottom of the ravine, and all rushed to the stream. 

When they had quenched their thirst they pitched 
their tent at the foot of a lofty rock, and enjoyed their 
usual supper. 

Victor was the first to mount guard. The others, 
lulled by the sound of the falling water, soon forgot their 
sufferings in sleep. 


( 204 ) 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

EL DORADO. 

HEN the sailor returned to the tent, after being 
the last to mount guard, he pulled Kwik by the 

leg to awaken him, reminding him that it w^as 

his turn to get breakfast ready, and that it had been day- 
light for the last hour. 

Though the twilight round the tent made Donatus 
think that the sailor was wrong, he, nevertheless, went 
out and seized an axe to cut down the wood which was 
necessary for the fire. He was filled with wonder at the 
grand spectacle around him. 

The place where he stood was a narrow valley, sur- 
rounded on all sides by walls of rock thousands of feet in 
height, some scarred and riven, others crumbling down 
towards the valley, as at the spot where they had de- 
scended the previous evening. In the hollows of these 
rocks, pines, cedars, and cypresses were growing. Through 
the ravine, over a rocky bed, flowed the small clear river. 

But that which struck Donatus with most amazement 
was the magnificent cascade w^hich fell with one bound 
from a height above of more than 400 feet, forming a 
cataract as large as a river, and roaring like distant 


EL DORADO. 


205 


thunder. For some time he stood watching it, trembling 
and motionless. 

What a height it is ! ” murmured he. If a man 
fell down from up yonder there wouldn’t be much left of 
him when he got to the bottom .... Am I dreaming 
or am I awake ? I’m sure I don’t know : I don’t seem 
bigger than an ant ! 0 Thou great God ! if it is Thy 
work I see here, what are all the men of this world in 
comparison with Thee ?” 

Then he went up to the foot of the rocks and cut down 
some large pieces of wood. With as little noise as 
possible, so as not to awaken his companions, he lighted 
a fire, stopping every now and then in his work to gaze 
at the roaring cataract or at the gigantic wall of rock, 
clasping his hands in wonder and admiration. 

Then, taking up the saucepan, he was about to go direct 
to the stream, but he strolled in a dreamy way by the 
side of the cascade whose noise seemed to attract him. 
He came to a spot where the rock jutted out into the bed 
of the river, and forced it to take a sharp curve ; at the 
end of this projecting rock the torrent had hollowed out 
a pooh 

It was into this pool that Donatus was about to plunge 
his saucepan, but suddenly a shrill cry escaped him and 
he bent over the water motionless, with the saucepan in 
his hand. Then he sprang up, raised his arms above his 
head^ began to jump and caper, rolling himself on the 
ground, dancing, laughing, talking of Anneken, and act- 
ing like one who had suddenly gone mad. He then ran 
to the tent. 


206 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


Before he reached it, his friends, alarmed by his shouts, 
got up and placed themselves on the defensive, their 
guns in their hands, ready to repulse the attack they 
expected. 

‘‘What is it ? What do you see ? Where they all 
cried. 

But Donatus, without replying, flung himself on his 
friend Boozeman’s neck, stuttering forth confused words, 
while tears fell from his eyes; he next ran to Crops, 
Pardoes, and the Baron, and was about to throw his arms 
round the sailor^s shoulders; hut he, thinking that he 
was mad, shook him off, giving him to understand that 
he would not stand such pranks. 

“ Come I Come ! ’’ stuttered Donatus, in a voice half 
choked by excitement. “ Come ! Castles ! Treasures I 
Anneken— Lucia — happiness — victory! My head is 
turned ! I have lost my senses ! . . . Come ! Come ! 

Thus saying he seized Victor^s hand, and dragged him 
to the spot where he had left his kettle. The others 
followed. 

“ Look ! look ! ’’ cried Kwik, pointing with his finger 
into the well which had been hollowed out by the water* 

“ Oh ! gold 1 Much gold ! ’’ they all cried. 

They threw themselves on the ground before the pool, 
plunged their arms into it and began to scratch under 
the water as eagerly as famishing tigers, who at last grasp 
in their claws a long-awaited prey. 

Then, drawing their hands full of gold out of the 
water, they all began to jump, dance, and sing. Their 
eyes sparkled, their hands trembled, their voices were 


EL DORADO, 


207 


hoarse ; they all talked at once like mad folk. Again 
and again they plunged their arms into the water, and it 
was not until they were exhausted by fatigue, and their 
hands and pockets were full of gold, that they sat down 
on the ground to rest. 

In the Baron an extraordinary change had taken 
place ; he appeared even madder than the rest, but they 
were too eager in their search for gold to take any notice 
of him. 

Creps, who was not so thoroughly bewildered by this 
wonderful discovery, began to fear that a new calamity 
had fallen on his companions just at the moment when 
they had reached the end of all their sufferings and 
miseries. He remembered hearing Pardoes say that it 
sometimes happened that gold seekers were seized, at a 
moment of unexpected good fortune, with incurable mad- 
ness. What he saw now was indeed enough to alarm 
him. He had never witnessed anything similar to the 
extravagant wildness of his friends. 

‘‘We have found a real treasure indeed, friends,^^ he 
said ; “ a most fortunate matter, for which we have good 
cause to rejoice ; but if you don’t try to master your 
excitement you will lose your reason, and what would be 
the use of gold to a set of madmen 

“ Let us see ! let us see ! Give me the gold ! ” cried 
Pardoes. “ I will weigh it to see how much we possess 
already.” 

They threw all their gold lumps into the tin saucepan ; 
the Brusseler weighed it, and then exclaimed, — 

“Nine pounds! nine pounds of gold! More than 


208 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


14,000 francs in ten minutes ! Ah, the world is ours ! 
We shall he millionaires ! Millionaires ! ’’ 

Roozeman, seizing Donatus by the hand, exclaimed, — 
‘‘Ah, my friend ! how good God is to us ! The happi- 
ness of my mother, the joy of my life ! Lucia ! Anneken ! 
Providence bestows everything upon us in a moment ! 
Thanks be to Thee, 0 Supreme Disposer of all good ! 
We thank Thee for our sufferings ; we thank Thee for 
Thy favours ! ’’ With upraised and trembling hands he 
offered to Heaven his fervent thanksgivings. 

“ Up, comrades ! Let us set to work ! Perhaps before 
evening we shall he rich with treasures enough for a life- 
time ! exclaimed the sailor. 

“Yes, to work ! Gold ! gold ! ’’ cried the others. 

They would not listen to Crops’ advice. Discontented 
and murmuring, he had crossed his arms on his breast, 
whilst^ his companions, leaning over the pool, continued 
to gather up the gold, notwithstanding the icy cold of the 
water, which stiffened their arms and benumbed their 
muscles. But he, too, was obliged to dig with his hands 
in the well ; for Pardoes and the sailor said that any who 
refused to work should forfeit his share of the gold, 
and be excluded from their company. 

At length, by Creps’ advice, they agreed to stop work 
for an hour and breakfast, to restore a little heat and 
strength to their stiffened arms. 

They returned to the tent, walking along the river’s 
bank, their eyes fixed on the water, hoping to see gold 
glistening among its stones. Pardoes suddenly clapped 
his hands together, and exclaimed, — 


EL DORADO. 


209 


* ‘ Look, friends ! Y onder in the crevices, sparkling — that 
is gold ! Fortune has not deceived us : hy crossing the 
water we can reach those crevices. There is gold in the 
whole bed of the river. A field perhaps large enough to 
enrich a thousand men ! Let us breakfast hastily. We 
probably don’t know yet the extent of our good luck ! ” 
The Baron appeared more and more excited ; hitherto 
i he had only spoken to himself ; now he seized Pardoes 
! hy the hand, and began a long harangue, in which he 
related his past history ; how he was the heir of the illus- 
trious house of Alteroche, how he had squandered the 
I inheritance of his ancestors and dishonoured his name, 
i But now he could hope once more, new blood was flowing 
into his veins ; he told them of the brilliant figure he 
would again display in Parisian society in his splendid 
carriage, with his servants in green and gold livery — the 
envy and admiration of all, who would shout, ‘‘Stand 
back ! make room for the Baron of Alteroche ! ” 

At these words the sailor burst into a loud laugh, while 
the others stared at the Baron with amazement. Their 
looks recalled him to his senses, and casting a glance of 
contempt on the Ostender, he said, calmly, — 

“Pardon me, gentlemen; I saw the future before my 
eyes. It is an illusion indeed, but it will become a 
reality.” 

“ Come ! come ! ” cried Pardoes. “ Every hour is per- 
haps worth 30,000 francs to us. Let us to work ! ” 

They followed him to the river; they tucked their 
j trowsers up to their knees and entered the stream ; they 
shivered from the icy cold of the torrent ; hut so strong 

o 


210 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


was their thirst for gold that they braved this painful 
sensation, and walked on through the water, here and 
there picking up nuggets among the stones. This did 
not last long, for the pain in their legs made them leave 
the water one after the other, and all asserted that the 
strongest man could not stay more than a few minutes in 
the current. In fact, the water was only melted snow 
descending from the Sierra Nevada, probably through 
clefts in the mountains, on which the sun never shone. 

Disappointed in this attempt, Pardoes said that they 
had better return to the well, and get out of it as much 
gold as it was possible to reach. Following his advice, 
they worked on all day ; now and then one of them ran 
to the base of the torrent and forded the stream to look 
for nuggets. This attempt was generally more or less 
successful, but had to be given up, owing to the coldness 
of the water. 

At night, when they retired to rest, the gold was again 
weighed. They estimated the day’s product at twenty- 
two pounds, or about 28,000 francs. 

As they were sitting round a large fire after supper, 
with a plate full of their nuggets before them, Creps 
remarked, — 

“ I should like to make a proposal, but I don’t think 
you are, any of you, prudent enough to adopt to. You 
seem all to have lost your heads.” 

‘‘ Let’s hear it,” the sailor said. 

‘‘Well, I propose that it shall be forbidden to work 
after certain hours, which shall be determined on among 
us. At the rate we are now working, and which will 


EL DORADO. 


2II 


probably be continued to-morrow and tbo following days, 
none of us will got to tbe end of the week without some 
severe illness/’ 

^'Bah! what is there to bo afraid of?” cried Kwik, 
laughing, and beginning to cut capers again. “ Look ! 
I feel as fresh as if I had just awoke from twenty-four 
hours’ sleep ! ” 

As to yourself, Donatus, you may be right ; but it is 
not every one who is as strong as you are. My health 
and that of my friends is worth more than gold ; and I 
don’t wish to be buried in this lonely ravine, or to see 
any of our party buried here either.” 

Pardoes agreed that Creps’ advice was good. They 
resolved to live exactly as they had done at the Yuba 
diggings, and to take their meals and rest regularly, and 
that no one should be allowed to seek for gold except at 
the appointed hour. 

“ Let us divide the gold now,” said the sailor. 

‘‘Divide the gold!” answered Pardoes. “That may 
be all very well when we have not much gold, but I 
suppose that in a few days we shall possess sixty pounds. 
Shall we then each run about with a weight of ten pounds 
round our necks ? Who could work thus ?” 

“ Never mind,” grumbled the sailor ; “ let us share the 
contents of the plate.” 

“Yes, yes!” echoed Donatus. “It will give us 
strength and courage when, as we work, we feel the gold 
weighing on our necks.” 

“You are mad!” replied Pardoes. “We are nearly 
sure to find in a short time gold enough for us to possess 


212 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


at least 100,000 francs. That would bo a weight of 
twenty-four pounds for each of us to wear always round 
our necks. Try to look at matters with a little common 
sense. Suppose we were attacked by bushrangers or by 
Californian savages : they would take all the gold we had 
upon us. We must be wiser and more cunning. I pro- 
pose to seek for a hole in the rock, some cleft or hidden 
spot, a little distance from our tent. There from to- 
morrow wo will store all the gold we find. None may 
touch it till the majority consent, and then only in the 
presence of the others. The man who, without permission, 
lays a finger on the common treasure, even only out of 
curiosity, gives his companions the right to shoot him at 
once, and he who wishes to spare him shall be looked on 
as his accomplice. These severe measures are necessary 
for our safety. You ought to accept them, for there are 
no other means.” 

After a certain amount of grumbling from the sailor, 
all consented to the proposed law. They stepped into 
the tent, rolled themselves up in their blankets, and fell 
asleep with happy hearts. 


( 213 ) 


CHAPTER XXYIII. 

THE WELL. 

AY had scarcely dawned before the excited gold 
seekers were already on their legs. Their 
sleep had been restless, for the certainty of 
soon possessing heaps of gold had exercised a most 
disturbing effect on their nerves. Their eyes were red, 
their features haggard, and their arms stiff and pain- 
ful. After breakfast, having warmed themselves at 
a large fire, they felt ready to begin work. 

They first sought for some cleft in which to conceal 
the gold, and soon found a suitable spot about thirty 
yards from their tent ; it was a cavity under a mass of 
rock, scarcely large enough to thrust one’s hand into it, 
but which was broader lower down, and so deep that 
one could not touch the bottom except by a long stretch 
of the arm. 

Pardoes placed all the gold in this hole, reminding 
the others of the law they had adopted ; he then went 
towards the pool, and after having looked into the water 
for a moment, he said to his companions, — 

The dream which disturbed my rest during the 
night is there. The cataract which descends from this 
gigantic mountain loosens in its course stones which 




214 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


contain gold, breaks them, and dashes them into the 
abyss, during the rainy season. Then the violence of 
the swirling waters below rubs off a portion of the gold, 
and throws it up here. We should see it spread about 
in larger quantities in the river if that w'ell did not stop 
it and swallow it up. The proof is, that we have found 
in the clefts and crevices of its jagged walls more than 
twenty pounds of nuggets. I believe if we could reach 
the bottom of that well Ave should find heaps of gold.” 

We must empty the well,” said the Ostender. 

No, that won’t do ; the river falls into it.” 

“It shall be emptied, even if we have to drink its 
contents! ” cried Kwik. “ To have thousands of pounds 
of gold, and not ” 

“ Come, no foolery ! ” interrupted Pardoes. “ Let us 
cut down a tall fir-tree; we wall measure with it the 
depth of the pool, and we shall then see if there is not 
some way of reaching the bottom.” 

Having got a very long pole they plunged it into the 
-water, till they felt the bottom at about thirty feet. 
They raised a cry of joyful surprise, convinced that, as 
the well was not deeper, they would be able, by some 
means or other, to reach the gold. But when they 
questioned each other as to this means, no one had any 
feasible plan to propose for emptying the pool. Dis- 
couraged aud perplexed, the gold seekers stood on the 
bank gazing into the water. At last Kwik, scratching 
his head, remarked,— 

“ Let us dive into the well, aud pull up the gold witli 
our hands.” 




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' “ With these words he had descended to his middle in the 
bank with his hands : but his voice stopped.” 


water, holding on the 
P. 215 


THE WELL. 


215 


We miglit, indeed/’ said Pardoes, ^'perliaps obtain 
in that way nuggets to the value of several millions. 
Put who would venture into that whirlpool ? ” 

“ Who ? I will ! ” cried Donatus. ‘‘ Bind the lasso 
round my body; let me down to the bottom, and pull 
me up when I shake the rope.” 

Poozeman wanted to dissuade him from this dangerous 
enterprize, but Kwik said he knew how to dive and swim 
like a rat, and that there was nothing to fear from the 
whirlpool, as one could always get up again by the aid 
of the rope ; and, besides, if one wished to become a mil- 
lionaire, one ought not to flinch before a little danger. 

His proposal was adopted, and it was decided that if 
this first attempt were successful the others should 
descend into the well according to lots. That their feet 
and legs might not be cut by the sharp points of rock, it 
was best to wear their shoes and trousers, but their 
other clothes were to be taken oJff. The lasso was 
bound under Donatus’ arms, and lengthened by a thick 
rope which they had with them. When all was ready 
for the descent, Kwik, after putting his finger in the 
water, said, laughing, — 

I am going ; good-bye, my friends ! ” I shall bring 

you news from the other ” 

With these words he had descended to his middle in 
the water, holding on to the bank with his hands : but 
his voice stopped ; he breathed in a strange way, while 
his eyes seemed to stand out of his head. 

‘‘Well! what’s the matter? Go down, man,” said 
Pardoes. 


2i6 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


‘‘ Ball ! comrades,” he stuttered ; ‘‘ I am frozen ! I 
am burning with the terrible cold ! Let me get used to 
it. Now, hold the rope tight ; I am going down.” 

Then he let go his hold on the bank, and dropped 
down into the deep pool. His companions kept their 
eyes fixed upon the bubbling water. On the result of 
this attempt might depend their future fortune; all 
hands were passed round the rope to pull up the diver at 
the slightest signal. 

They hadnT long to wait ; a second or two after 
Donatus had descended into the water the lasso received 
two or three violent shakes. Kwik was pulled up and 
lifted on to the bank. 

‘^Well! well! Did you touch the bottom?” they 
asked. 

But Donatus seemed as if he neither saw nor heard ; 
his teeth chattered, his limbs shivered, he tottered 
on his legs, and exclaimed, gasping, — 

“ Oh this cursed gold for which a man must expose 
his life! I donT know where I am. I believe my 
heart is frozen in my body.” 

‘‘ But the gold! Have you found any gold?” asked the 
others. 

“ A stone, or gold, or a piece of ice, I don’t know 
which,” he murmured. “ Here, look at it ; it’s all the 
same to me* I shall run to the fire to thaw myself.” 

At these words he opened his hand and let something 
fall at his friends’ feet, and then ran staggering towards 
the tent. 

Incredible ! ” cried Pardoes. ‘‘A nugget of pure 


THE WELL, 


217 


gold, six pounds weight at least! What marvellous 
treasures must this pool contain ! One piece six 
pounds ! There are, perhaps, thousands of similar pieces, 
which in the course of centuries may have been heaped 
up at the bottom of this pool ! Oh ! what a bappy, 
good fortune ! 

He hastily broke off five grass blades of different 
lengths, holding them to the others to draw lots. It 
was evident enough that a dive into the well, cold as 
ice, frightened them, for they hesitated to take the grass 
blades, disputing who should draw first. 

The lot decided that the sailor should be the first to 
descend, then Creps, Pardoes, the Baron, and lastly 
Victor, after which they would begin again with Kwik, 
and so on in rotation. Without hesitation the Ostender 
went down into the water, but he quickly shook the 
lasso, and when he was pulled out he had brought 
up three or four nuggets, weighing altogether about 
a pound. He threw the gold on the ground without 
saying a word, and ran grumbling to the tent, where 
Donatus was making a fire big enough to roast an 
ox. 

Creps bravely descended into the pool, but he found 
no gold. Pardoes was luckier, bringing back at least 
two and a half pounds of nuggets. Both, with chattering 
teeth and shivering violently, ran towards the fire, so 
that Eoozcman and the Baron remained alone at the 
pooTs mouth. 

The Baron seemed strangely upset ; while Victor was 
binding the lasso under his arms he trembled. 


2i8 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


Come, Baron, don’t be afraid,” lie said ; it must 
be horribly cold in there ; but it is only a disagreeable 
moment ; I will pull you up as quickly as possible.” 

The Baron took a step backward, murmuring with 
anxiety, — 

“ I am afraid — I can’t swim.” 

“ You must take a long breath first, fill your chest 
with air, and then keep your mouth well shut. There 
is no danger ; take courage.” 

‘‘ Courage ? ” repeated the Baron. The day before 
yesterday I should have seen death approach me with 
pleasure. Now that fate restores to me fortune and 
hope, life seems precious to me. Ah! if this abyss 
should be the end of me 1 ” 

The sailor shouted that they must go on fiiirly with 
the work as agreed. Seeing that no attention was paid to 
his cries, he ran up, seized the rope from Victor’s hands, 
and grumbled out, while his teeth still chattered, — 

“ You are trembling, Baron ? No foolery ! Each 
must take his share in the trouble as well as in the 
profit. It is a horrid bath, it is true ; but the illustrious 
Baron Alteroche may fear as much as he likes, his noble 
bones as well as ” 

The Baron cast a bitter look upon his insulter, and 
jumped so hastily into the water that the rope nearly 
escaped from the Ostender’s hands. 

After a few moments Victor exclaimed, seizing the 
rope, — 

Pull up ! pull up I he can’t swim ; he will be 
drowned 1 ” 


THE WELL. 


219 


‘‘ Ho hasn’t given the signal yet : wait till he does,” 
said the sailor, resisting Hoozoman’s efforts. 

Til ere Avas a struggle on the banks of the pool, till the 
Ostender himself acknowledged that the Baron had been 
longer under the water than the others, before he pulled 
at the rope. They drew it up now ; the Baron was 
hanging to it, his eyes closed, his body like that of a 
dead man. 

Hastily they dragged him on to the bank ; the sailor 
began to roll him on the ground, but Victor seized the 
drowned man by the shoulders, and said, — 

“ Quick ! take him by the legs ; let us carry him to 
the fire : he will revive perhaps yet. Poor Baron ! to 
die thus by so terrible a death in the desert, far from his 
country ! ” 

The others got up. Honatus began to weep and 
lament at the fate of the unfortunate Baron. Jan 
fetched the blankets and wrapped them round him ; then 
they tried all possible means to restore animation to the 
lifeless body. Pardoes and the sailor, considering these 
efforts useless, stood by the fire and took no part in 
them ; the latter even began to talk of burying the body 
at once at the foot of a rock. 

“ He lives ! Thank God, he lives ! ” cried Honatus. 
“ I felt a movement in his hand.” 

‘‘ Yes ! yes ! he lives ! ” said Victor. Look ! look ! 
he breathes ! ” 

*^A11 the Avorse for him and for us!” groAvled the 
Ostender. 

Movement had indeed returned to the Baron’s stiffened 


220 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


body. Then he opened his eyes and rubbed his forehead 
for a moment, as one waking from a heavy sleep. Gradu- 
ally a smile came over his face, and he began to speak 
of his happy return from California, and of the gold he 
had found there. 

A cry of amazement escaped from his companions ; 
the sailor alone laughed. Victor took the Baron’s hand, 
and tried to remind him of his condition and where he 
was ; but he took no notice of what he said, and began 
to address his groom, ordering his horses and carriage 
to be ready to take him to the palace. He raved also 
about a duel he was going to fight. 

Then his head sank back on the blanket ; he closed 
his eyes and appeared really asleep. Jan, Victor, and 
Donatus were deeply grieved at the Baron’s condition. 
Pardoes told them that he was suffering from a sharp 
attack of fever. 

Looking on the poor Baron, the gold seekers, trem- 
bling with cold, sat round the fire, and, big as it was, 
still shivered as if they had the ague. 

Victor alone suffered no inconvenience, as he had not 
yet been under water. It was not long before the sailor 
began a violent attack upon him, asserting that the Ant- 
werper was trying to shirk his dive. But Eoozeman 
got up, and said, — 

Come along ! What others have done, I mean to do, 
too. I am ready. Who will hold the rope ? ” 

Ho, no ! Let us talk no more of this mad project,” 
said Crops ; we have already drawn up one of our 


THE WELL. 


221 


party almost dead. It would be a crime to begin again 
this dangerous experiment/’ 

A violent quarrel arose. Creps and Kwik were 
opposed to Eoozeman going down. The sailor and 
Pardoes asserted that ho had no right to escape the 
work. 

Well, I say that he shall not dive,” exclaimed 
Kwik. For all the gold in the world I would not go 
into that well again ; but to save Mr. Victor from an 
illness, or worse, is a different matter. Put the lasso 
round my body. I will be frozen once more to the very 
marrow in place of Eoozeman. I am strong ; God will 
protect me ! ” 

But Victor put an end to the dispute by expressing 
his firm resolve to be even with his companions. Though 
Donatus told him how painful was the sensation, he de- 
clared he would make the attempt, and requested Par- 
does and Creps to hold the rope. 

Without hesitation he let himself be lowered into the 
pool. He was scarcely in the water when Donatus, who 
held a hot blanket all ready, began to shout, — 

Pull up ! pull up ! ” 

Hold your tongue, idiot ! ” growled Pardoes. It’s 
his turn ; let him do his work.” 

But half a minute after he said himself, — 

He is a long time without giving the signal; we will 
pull him up.” 

When Victor came up on dry land ho was utterly 
stupefied. Donatus threw the warm blanket over his 
shoulders, and was about to carry him to the fire ; but 


222 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


Pardocs, who had seen something glisten among the 
diver’s fingers, opened his fists ; from each of them fell 
some pieces of gold, weighing about 2 lbs. They picked 
up the nuggets, ran to the fire, and stretched themselves 
beside it, while Donatus did all in his power to restore 
heat to his friend’s shivering limbs. It was very neces- 
sary. Victor had remained longer under the water than 
the others ; his lips were blue ; his eyes were strangely 
glassy ; he trembled so that he tried in vain to utter an 
intelligible word. Gradually, however, he grew better ; 
and, though the poor fellow was still terribly weak, he 
seemed cheerful, and thanked his friends for their gene- 
rous care. 

The Baron was asleep. He appeared to be breathing 
freely, though now and then he made nervous gestures, 
and muttered excited words. Meanwhile the sailor and 
PardoGS were busy examining and weighing the nuggets, 
and they announced with joy that at least 12 lbs. of gold 
had been drawn from the well. Thus the common 
treasure had been raised in a day and a half to 45,000 
francs. 

The others expressed no pleasure in hearing of their 
brilliant success. On the contrary, Creps’ lips curled 
with a smile of contempt. Donatus declared that, if 
this gold had made his poor friend ill, he would curse 
the moment when he had seen it ; the two invalids re- 
mained utterly indifferent. At last Pardoes asked if any 
one was of opinion that they should resume diving into 
the well, and if not, what other means should they adopt 
for seeking gold with success. 


THE WELL. 


223 


None of them. — not even the sailor —dared to think, 
without horror, of a second descent into the pool. All 
acknowledged that they must give up the attempt, unless 
they wished to risk their lives. Pardoes then expressed 
his intention of passing the rest of the day wading in the 
river, seeking for grains of gold and nuggets, hut Creps 
would not hear of working any more that day. He 
remarked, that, in any case, two of their party must stay 
beside the fire to recover; that they were all tired enough 
to require some hours of rest ; and that they would be 
mad to exhaust their strength by more labour. Pardoes 
received this advice, shrugging his shoulders, while the 
sailor burst into a furious passion against the weakness 
and idleness of his companions, as he called it. lie even 
uttered the word ‘‘coward.^’ Creps jumped up, and 
exclaimed, in an angry tone, and with such fierce 
gestures, that all were amazed, — 

I won’t stand your impertinence any longer. Do 
you think that I have come to California to ruin my 
health for you, or to die like a dog in this wilderness, 
with my hands full of gold ? You talk and act as if you 
were the master, and we were the servants ; but I will 
teach you that it is nothing of the kind. 'We have 
formed a company on the footing of complete equality. 
I speak now in the name of the majority. We decide 
not to work any more to-day. This decision each must 
obey, whether he likes it or not; so you had better make 
up your mind to submit.” 

I shall take my share of the gold, and dissolve the 


224 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


compan}^ then,’’ growled the sailor, springing forward 
to run to the treasure. 

But Creps drew his revolver, and exclaimed, — 

‘‘ Stop, fellow ! Eespect the law ! Another step, and 
you are dead ! ” 

Pardoes made a sign that they should stand still ; and 
then, seizing the Ostender by the middle of his body, he 
tried to drag him back and quiet him. He said that 
Creps was right, and that as the majority sided with him 
the others must submit. He regretted that they had 
to lose half a day when close to so much gold ; but they 
would be all the stronger on the morrow, and would pro- 
bably make up for lost time then. 

The sailor, though still grumbling, submitted at last, 
and resumed his seat by the fire. 

Pardoes, fearing lest the quarrel might be renewed, 
led off the sailor to examine the bed and course of the 
river. They tried also to see if there was any chance of 
game in the neighbourhood, for they remembered that in 
four days their stock of bacon would be exhausted. They 
ascended, with their guns, among ihe clefts of the rock, 
and soon disappeared out of sight of their companions. 

Creps, silent and mournful, sat gazing now at the 
Baron; now at his friend Victor. The idea lest the 
latter should, in consequence of his dive into the well, 
be attacked with a dangerous illness, filled him with 
grief and anxiety. He wished that he had never decided 
to come to California. In bitter words he reproached 
himself for his folly. What had they gained hitherto 
by leaving their happy country ? 


THE WELL. 


^25 

He concluded by asserting that they must leave this 
place as soon as possible, before misfortunes and unfore- 
seen diseases made some of their companions incapable 
of returning to San Francisco. But neither Victor nor 
Donatus would hear of such a proposal. They reminded 
him that they had attained the object of their arduous 
journey, and that their happiness, and that of those 
dear to them, was about to be realised. A few days of 
courage and patience might put them in possession of the 
treasures they had so long dreamed of. 

But Crops was bitter and out of temper. He would 
probably have remained so, had not Roozeman convinced 
him that he was quite cured, and that he felt a pleasant 
warmth circulating through all his limbs. Meanwhile 
the Baron awoke, and sat up in his blankets. The 
Flemings asked him kindly how he was, but he neither 
knew nor understood them. He believed himself to be 
in a mansion at Paris, surrounded by his servants, to 
whom he was giving orders for a princely dinner. 

Sadly did his companions listen to him. All their 
efforts to dispel his illusions were vain. 

When, an hour before nightfall, Pardoes and the 
sailor returned to the tent, they showed their companions 
two water-birds they had killed. They could easily have 
brought back a dozen, but they had spent most of their 
time exploring the river, to see if it contained gold. 
They had seen scarcely any. They must, therefore, con- 
fine their labour to the valley in which their tent was 
pitched. Pardoes’ plan was to dam up the bed of the 
river at some favourable spot> empty some of the shal* 

V 


226 


Off to CALIFORNIA. 


lower pools, and thus obtain the nuggets they contained, 
without being obliged to dive into the icy water. It would 
be slow work, but the success would be certain. Par- 
does, who wished to raise his friends’ sinking spirits, 
spoke of the probable brilliant result of their enterprise. 

Donatus became so excited on hearing Pardoes’ words, 
that he shouted, “ Long live Baron Kwik ! Long live 
Anneken, the Baroness ! Hurrah ! hurrah ! ” 

A cry of pain from Victor brought him to his senses ; 
he read in his friend’s eyes that he thought he was as 
mad as the Baron, so he went up to him laughingly, 
and whispered in his ear, — 

Don’t fear for me, Mr. Boozeman ; I am a poor 
simpleton, no doubt, but the little sense that I have is 
not so easily disturbed. My brains are well screwed into 
my hard head.” 

The two birds were soon roasted. Creps proposed to 
give up one of them to Victor and the Baron, as they 
were ill. To this all cheerfully consented, except the 
sailor, who demanded his full share. They gave it him, 
and then he pretended it was too small. His mates, 
to appease his selfishness, had given him more than 
his share. This did not prevent him, when they had 
gone to rest in the tent, from still grumbling between 
his teeth against those who ate, but were too lazy to 
work. 


( 227 ) 


CHAPTER XXIX. 


TREACHERY. 



I EXT day the gold seekers were early at work ; 
they had decided to make a semi-circular 
embankment in the river, so as to completely 
lay dry a portion of its bed. Pardoes did not think it 
would be finished till after twelve days’ hard labour. 
The spot they had fixed upon included many small 
crevices and cavities, in which they saw the gold 
glittering; and if they were successful, they would 
doubtless obtain very many nuggets. This hope gave 
them courage. They carried or rolled large blocks of 
stone from the rock to the river, which they piled up in 
the water to form an embankment. 

The Baron was completely insane. Xow and then he 
seemed to understand that they were working to get 
gold, but most of the time he imagined himself at 
Paris, where a superb mansion was being built for him. 
He would then work with activity, carrying heavy 
stones on his shoulders ; but this was only to give an 
example to the workmen, so that his magnificent 
residence might be more quickly finished. All treated 
him kindly except the Ostender, who, notwithstanding 


228 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


the reproaches and threats of Crops and his friends, 
lost no opportunity of illtreating the poor madman, 
when his companions were not close at hand. 

For some time the gold seekers had to contend with 
the torrent, which ten times in one day overthrew their 
work, carrying away the stones they had heaped up. 
But they overcame this obstacle by dragging up an 
enormous mass of rock — a labour which for forty-eight 
hours demanded their united strength and all their 
skill. They succeeded at last, by using trunks of cedars 
as levers and supports, in placing this huge stone in the 
middle of the river, where it served as a central point 
of the embankment which was to be raised around 
it. 

It was desperately hard work; but they were all 
blinded by the thirst for gold. As they were forced 
constantly to walk through the icy water, their feet were 
nearly frozen, while their heads, exposed to the sun, 
burned as if their brains were on fire. 

Victor Roozeman did not seem well ; ever since his 
dive into the pool his face had been deadly pale. How- 
ever, he assured his friends he was in good health, and 
capable of working as much as they did. 

The Ostender’s continual persecutions had wrought 
an unfavourable change in the Baron's condition. He 
no longer dreamed of the castle that was being built for 
him : his fixed idea was that he was the victim of a 
cruel tyranny. He seemed to have lost all courage 
now, and continued to work on in mournful silence. 

As to Donatus, he was always in a good humour. 


TREACHERY. 


229 


He laboured hard and bravely, cheering his mates by his 
jests, and talking about his castle and Anneken. 

Pardoes had asserted that their work would be done 
in twelve days, but they had already been working ten, 
and at least a third part of their embankment remained 
to be constructed. Whilst they were at dinner on the 
twelfth day, Pardoes told them that on the following 
morning their stock of bacon would be exhausted, and 
that there would be very little flour left. It was 
necessary, therefore, that one or other of them should 
go out hunting every day to obtain food for the rest. 
That their work should not sufier, Pardoes proposed to 
send Victor and the Baron on the morrow : it would be 
an amusement for them, and good exercise. 

The sailor grumbled, and demanded that lots should 
be drawn. According to him, ‘‘Every one for himself^’ 
was the law of California ; and if any one was sick or 
crazy, all the worse for him. 

Creps and Donatus flew into a passion with him, but, 
as Victor refused to accept any privilege, they drew lots. 
It fell to the Ostender and Kwik to go first to hunt. 
They returned at nighfall with three little birds and an 
animal like a rabbit. It was not much, still it gave 
them some little hope that they would not starve 
in this place. 

Next day, when Creps and Pardoes returned from a 
ten-hours’ chase, weary and exhausted, they only 
brought back a couple of birds resembling part- 
ridges. Every succeeding day they were less successful ; 
there was probably very little game in the country, and 


230 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


their shots had frightened and driven away the few 
animals that were about. Moreover, the gold seekers 
did not dare to go far from their tent, except along the 
hanks of the river, for fear of losing their way. 

When all their provisions were exhausted, they saw 
themselves, with terror, threatened by famine, and more 
than once they had to go to bed with almost empty 
stomachs. They became very ill-tempered and quarrel- 
some. Creps again insisted that they ought to quit 
this fatal spot ; but as the embankment was nearly 
finished, he was persuaded to wait two or three days 
longer. 

When they arose on the following morning, they saw 
with horror and grief that the torrent had during the 
night overthrown more than thirty feet of their 
embankment. Thus an entire week’s work was lost. 
The sailor was furious ; he reproached his companions, 
and behaved like a madman. The others, vexed and 
despondent, gazed on the remains of their painful 
labour. 

“ Well, friends,’’ said Pardoes at last, the disaster 
is great indeed, but it is limited to the loss of five or 
six days of work. We are too impatient, and ask too 
much of Fortune. This place that we are trying to 
enclose contains gold enough to repay us tenfold. We 
must carry on the embankment straight to the shore ; it 
will be completed in two days. Three of us must 
constantly go hunting, while the other three work. In 
this way we shall not lack food.” 

When Creps exclaimed, in a fit of fury, that they 


TREACHERY. 


231 


ought to depart at once, Pardoes replied bitterly that it 
would be thorough cowardice to give up the struggle 
against Nature, when they were sure of wresting from 
her, vdthin three days, treasures which she was 
vainly trying to keep from them. Donatus and Victor 
took the Brusseler’s part, so Jan withdrew his opposition. 

Creps, Donatus, and Victor started off to forage ; 
Pardoes and the Ostender set to work to carry pieces of 
rock to the river ; in this labour they obliged the Baron 
to help them. 

During the dinner-hour the Baron was seated by the 
fire gnawing the remains of a bird. The sailor was, as 
usual, standing close to the well whence they had 
drawn so much gold ; he was scratching his head, 
stamping his feet, and making gestures of impatience. 
Pardoes, who was walking at the foot of the rocks, had 
kept his eye on the Ostender ; he now approached him, 
and said, joking, — 

‘^The gold below yonder has bewitched you. Are 
you dreaming of some means by which to get it ? 

“ Dreaming ! repeated the other, in a strange tone ; 

Dreaming ! I will get that gold, as sure as I live, I 
tell you ! ’’ 

Do you mean to risk the dive again ? I would not 
advise you to make the dangerous attempt.” 

The sailor took him by the hand, and said, Pardoes, 
you are my friend : I could keep for myself all the gold 
enclosed in that pool, but I don’t wish to. I will share 
it with you. Consent, and we are millionaires several 
times over ! ” 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


232 

I don’t understand you ; what do you mean ? ” 
asked the Brusseler, amazed. '^Do you know any 
plan of getting hold of the gold down there ? Say, if 
you do, and we will try it ! ” 

A laugh of contempt curled the Ostender’s lips as he 
said, — 

^^If two brave men alone knew of the existence of 
this treasure, if they had gold enough to buy at 
Sacramento the necessary tools, would they not find gold 
enough here to lade two or three mules ? ” 

I have already thought of that,” replied Pardoes ; 
we have gold enough ; we will return here as you say, 
and work the pool with the proper instruments.” 

And our lazy weak companions ? ” 

‘‘ They will soon return home, they are weary of gold 
seeking. We will go with them as far as the Sacramento 
valley, and while they are travelling to San Francisco 
we will go and seek the necessary tools at Sacramento.” 

‘‘ These cowards,” said the sailor, were born to be 
our ruin ! ” 

How so ? ” 

They will deprive us of our treasure.” 

‘‘ What a foolish notion ! ” 

Foolish ! You think it ? Let them only go to 
San Francisco, and tbe vast fortune which belongs to 
us is lost. They will live there in luxury with their 
gold, and when their health and strength are restored 
they will forget the miseries they have endured. Then 
their thirst for gold will revive, they will choose other 
companions, and return to this spot, ” 


TREACHERY, 


233 


“ Don t fear that/’ said the Brusseler, laughing ; for 
all the treasures in the world, Jan Creps would never 
return here, and without him his fViends would not 
move an inch. Roozeman is seriously ill, he sure 
of it ! ” 

That makes it all the worse,” growled the sailor. 
''Stupid as they are, they will tell the secret, and 
hundreds of greedy men will come to dispute our 
treasure. Who knows if on our return we shan’t find 
the place invaded by others ? ” 

" Possibly ; but what else can we do ? ” 

" Oh ! I know a way,” said the sailor, as he put his 
mouth to his friend’s ear ; " they would certainly never 
come back here, and still less speak about it at San 
Francisco ... if they had to leave here without gold, 
without arms. Hunger, robbers . . .” 

The Brusseler turned pale, and withdrew his hand 
from that of his companion. 

" What do I hear ? ” he exclaimed. " Is it a miser- 
able robbery that you propose ? ” 

" A robbery ! ” repeated the other, laughing ; " we 
shall only take what belongs to us ; for without us . . .” 

" What ! ” said Pardoes. " Betray our friends in 
such a cowardly way. If you were not an old friend, I 
would send a bullet through your head ! ” 

The sailor was alarmed at the violence of Pardoes’ 
anger. 

" Why do you fly into such a rage ? ” said he, with 
feigned calmness. "What I said was only an idea 
which came into my head. I would undertake nothing 


234 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


without you ; I shall always remain your faithful friend, 
and I shall never do anything that you don’t approve of. 
I was wrong, of course. As the plan doesn’t please you, 
we will say no more about it. It would be cowardly, 
perhaps, but I believe most people would betray their 
own father and mother, for the sake of gold.” 

Pardoes replied sharply ; but the sailor acknowledged 
he was wrong with such humility that the Brusseler 
promised to forget his infamous proposal, and not to 
breathe a word of it to the others. 

All that day the sailor was very cheerful at his 
work. Even when Creps and his friends returned from 
the chase, only bringing five little birds, he neither 
swore nor grumbled, merely saying how he hoped that 
Pardoes, who was a capital shot, w'ould bring them in a 
good stock of game on the morrow. 

The supper was very sad, for there was not near 
enough to satisfy the famishing gold seekers. 

The sailor’s strange conduct made Pardoes very 
anxious; there was something unnatural in it; pro- 
bably it concealed evil intentions. On the other hand, 
he might wish to acknowledge sincerely how wrong he 
had been. Pardoes, who had a real friendship for the 
rough sailor, tried to put his suspicions out of his head ; 
but he resolved to keep an eye on his friend, especially 
w'hen towards morning it would be his turn to mount 
guard. 


( 235 ) 


CHAPTER XXX. 

THE CORPSES. 

morning dawn was descending like a grey 
Lst from the summits of the mountains, 
len suddenly the gold seekers’ sleep was 
disturbed by a cry of agony. 

They all rose together, and felt about for their weapons ; 
hut they shuddered with terror when they found that 
their guns had disappeared. 

Treason ! Treason ! ” shouted Creps. The revolvers, 
friends ! Let us defend ourselves ! ” 

They rushed out of the tent, looking round on all 
sides to find the weapons which had been taken from 
them. 

“ Where are the sailor and the Brusseler ? ” en- 
quired Donatus. It seems to me that this smells of 
savages ! ” 

But a groan of pain arose in the darkness some thirty 
yards oflP. They walked cautiously in that direction 
to the foot of the rock. Pardoes lay there stretched 
on his hack ; the blood was fiowing from a large wound 
in his breast. Creps and his friends sank down by 
the side of the wounded man, raised his head^ and 



OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


236 

tried to close up tlie wound. Pardoes still breathed, 
and he seemed even to regain consciousness, thanks 
to the attentions of his companions, for he made efforts 
to speak. 

The Baron did not seem to know what was going on, 
the poor madman raised shouts of laughter and cries of 
joy ; but his companions were far too overcome to pay 
any attention to his strange and wild behaviour. 

Creps and Donatus lifted up the wounded man and 
carried him to the tent, while Victor held a piece of 
linen to the wound to stop the blood as much as possible. 
The blankets were arranged with every possible care to 
form a couch on which the Brusseler was placed, while 
his wound was bandaged and his chest wrapped up. 

It was not daylight yet ; the Flemings knelt beside 
the bed of their unfortunate friend, and with heavy 
hearts kept their eyes fixed on his face to discover 
any signs of life. At length Pardoes half opened his 
eyes, looked at his comrades, and moved his lips as 
if he desired to speak. Then he stammered out, gasp- 
ing,— 

“ Sailor . . . stolen the gold . . . guns in the well . . . 
assassin . . . God . . . my mother . . . Brussels . . 

After these words he closed his eyes and remained 
motionless, as if he had sunk under this last effort to 
explain matters to his comrades. 

Donatus raised a cry and ran out. In a few moments 
after he returned with a handful of nuggets, and groaned 
out, with tears in his eyes, — 

Alas ! alas ! the gold is indeed stolen ! This is all 


THE CORPSES. 


237 


that the rascally felon has left in the hole, and dropped 
in his haste. Three pounds! not more than three 
pounds ! The robber ! The wretch ! He has fled away 
with my castle. Alas ! I must become a farm-servant 
again. But my Anneken, my poor Anneken ! What 
will she say to me on my return ? ’’ 

After a few moments’ thought, he exclaimed sud- 
denly,— 

“ The sailor cannot be far off* ; let us climb the rocks, 
we shall overtake him, and get it all back from him. I 
will blow out his brains I I must have my gold. Come ! 
come ! ” 

Creps dashed the nuggets out of his hand, and said, 
angrily,— 

1 ** Hold your tongue ! I won’t take a step to get 

that horrible metal which changes men into tigers. 
Let the sailor go, he carries his own curse upon his 
head. Eemain, I tell you ; enough blood has been 
I shed!” 

Honatus picked up the nuggets, putting them into a 
little leather bag which hung round his neck. 

** Gold is gold,” he muttered ; the less one has, the 
more precious it is. We can’t tell what use it may 
not be ” 

Whilst the others had turned away from the wounded 
man for a moment, the Baron was sitting close to 
Pardoes’ head. A gleam of intelligence lightened up his 
features. With a strange smile, however, his eye re- 
mained fixed on the pale face of the dying man, while 
now and then he uttered words of triumph. His com- 


S 38 off to CALIFORNIA. 

rades looked at him with amazement, and listened 
trembling. 

Then he looked with an imperious air as he gave ; 
orders to his companions, whom he took for his servants, i 
as to his approaching funeral, which he desired should j 
he conducted with the utmost state, and as grand 
as that of a king. Presently he grew calmer, and sat down 
again. 

‘‘ Horrible ! horrible ! ’’ murmured Victor. 

“ This spot is enchanted,’’ said Donatus ; ‘‘ the gold 
here is guarded by invisible demons ! Don’t let us 
delay ; let us start at once ! ” 

Start ! ” Poozeman said. We can’t leave our poor 
friend Pardoes in this condition ! We must wait until 
we see him buried, if he dies.” i 

‘‘But what are we to do with a dying man and a | 
madman?” cried Donatus, in terror. “Ho food, no 
guns, we shall die of hunger ; and on the road, bush- ! 
rangers, savages, bears ! How I understand the Baron ; * 
Pardoes is indeed the happiest ! It is all over with j 
him. Alas ! poor Kwik ! why did you ever leave happy I 
Hatten-Haesdonck ?” j 

Jan Creps arose, and said resolutely, — 

“ Our lot is a horrible one, my friends ; yesterday we 
scarcely ate anything. If we don’t make an effort to 
get food, famine will soon make an end of us. ‘ Help 
yourselves, and God will help you,’ says a proverb 
invented by men in as desperate plight as we are.” j 
And turning towards the Baron, he asked, — | ' 

“ Baron, will you watch over poor Pardoes ? will you I 


THE CORPSES. 


239 


give him drink when he is thirsty ? You will not 
forsake him?’’ 

“Forsake him? Never! never!” replied the mad- 
man, “ I will stay with him always ! ” 

“ Will you make a fire ?” 

“ A large fire.” 

“ Come, then, don’t let us lose a moment, comrades. 
The revolver is a bad weapon, we shall have difficulty 
enough in shooting down our game ; hut we must hesi- 
tate no longer, necessity is an iron law, and we must 
obey it.” 

It went against Victor’s heart to abandon poor Pardoes 
to the Baron’s doubtful care ; he expressed his desire 
to remain near the tent ; but Creps had for some time 
I remarked that his friend was thoroughly upset, and 
[ very pale, and he thought it best to get him away 
I from this sorrowful scene. They once more enjoined the 
I Baron to pay attention to the slightest movements of 
the wounded man, and then all three climbed the rocks 
in search of game, though at every step encountering 
fresh dangers. 

They only saw a few birds, and, moreover, found that 
it was impossible to take proper aim with a revolver. 
After wandering about for two hours, and discharging 
their pistols twenty times, they had not shot a single 
bird. Gloomy and despondent, they reached the verge 
of the wood. Eoozeman was especially silent; he 
scarcely replied to his friends’ encouraging words. Creps 
was deeply troubled at this : however, he concealed his 
anxiety. 


240 


OPF TO CALIFORI^IA. 


At last Donatus shot a wild pigeon. 

Creps gave it to Eoozeman, saying, — 

Take it, Victor : go straight to the tent and cook 
it. We will follow you through the woods to see if 
fortune will smile on us a second time. Make haste ; 
we are dying of hunger.’’ 

When Victor descended the rocks he saw the flames 
of the fire. This sight cheered him ; it made him think 
that the Baron had carefully performed his duties. With 
hasty steps he approached the tent, eager to learn poor 
Pardoes’ state ; hut a cry of agony escaped him : the 
tent was empty ! Even the wounded man had disap- 
peared ! 

Eoozeman remained motionless for a moment. He 
thought of wild animals, and of Californian savages ; 
but that was only for a second, for nothing was touched 
in the tent, everything was in its place, and just as 
they had left it. 

He went out and called the Baron with all his 
strength ; hut the only reply was the echo of his own 
voice. Then he thought he observed on the grass traces 
as of a heavy body which had been dragged along the 
ground : these marks led him to the edge of a precipitous 
rock. Here he suddenly drew back with a shriek of 
horror; for his gaze fell on two human bodies lying 
beneath. He sank back fainting on the ground. 

A few minutes after he came to himself, and ran 
in the opposite direction beyond the tent, where he met 
Creps and Kwik returning from the chase without any 
game. 


THE CORPSES. 


241 


What is the matter both exclaimed. 

Come ! come ! ” replied he. ‘‘It is horrible : incom- 
prehensible ! The Baron and Pardoes have disappeared 
from the tent. They are lying on their backs, muti- 
lated, crushed ! ’’ 

Arrived at the foot of the rock, they stood transfixed 
with horror at the dreadful sight. 

“They have fallen from' above: all their limbs are 
broken ! said Kwik, trembling with horror. 

“ The curse of God hangs over this place,” cried Creps. 
“ Let us flee from it ; the gold will be our death. I will 
not die here. You, Victor, must not stay beside these 
horrible corpses. Eeturn to the fire. Cook the bird. 
Obey me. We will bury the bodies, then we will depart 
from this cursed land, where famine stares us in the face. 
Go, I tell you, and make all haste with our meal ! ” 

Victor obeyed. Creps and Kwik dug a grave at the 
foot of the rocks, filling it up with earth and large stones 
to protect the remains of their unhappy friends against 
savage animals. Donatus tied two pieces of wood to- 
gether in the form of a cross, which he placed over the 
grave to show that those who rested beneath this heap 
of stones were Christians. 

Then both knelt down ; they uttered a fervent prayer, 
not only for the repose of their poor friends* souls, but 
for themselves too, that God would have mercy upon 
them, bring them out of this dreadful wilderness, and 
save them from the starvation and countless other 
dangers which threatened them. Then, shedding hitter 
tears, they returned to the tent. 

Q 


242 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


The roasted pigeon was divided and eagerly devoured. 
On Creps’ order they hastily removed the canvas from 
the tent, and got all ready to start. As they were put- 
ting on their knapsacks Donatus exclaimed, — 

We are not certain that we shall ever see a human 
being again. Still there is a chance for us. I mean to 
dive once more into that pool. Who knows if I shan’t 
fish up my castle again ?” 

Not another word about it ! ” cried Creps. “ Take 
up your knapsack ! ” 

‘‘Yes, but,” remarked Donatus, “ I have an idea: if I 
were to dive in with the saucepan, I could, perhaps, fill 
it with nuggets.” 

“ No, no ! Don’t do it, Donatus ; you will be risking 
your life,” said Victor, imploringly. 

“ There’s much to risk, indeed, in such a life ! ” mur- 
mured Kwik. “ The savages, hunger, or the pool, what 
is the difference ? But if you don’t wish it, I give it up. 
Let us be off.” 

Jan Creps, without listening to him, had already 
started, and was beginning to scale the rocks with Rooze- 
man. It was plain that the latter had more courage 
than strength ; for although he struggled against the 
difficulties of the road, he often stopped to take breath, 
because of the steep and difficult path. Donatus 
kept beside him, supporting and helping him, till they 
had reached the upper part of the valle}^ where they 
halted to rest, and to debate which would be the best 
way to proceed — to ascend the mountain or keep to 
the valley road. 


THE CORPSES. 


243 


After glancing at the mountain for a moment, Crops 
observed, — 

‘‘ We must choose our road, friends. To return to 
the Yuba diggings by the barren desert does not seem 
advisable to me, even were it possible. I think we 
should do well to descend the valley, turning away 
from the Sierra Nevada. Perhaps in four or five 
days we may reach the Sacramento valley, and meet 
some people. Our lot is terrible, but let us keep up our 
courage and hope to the end. On the way we must 
try and shoot some game. If we don’t succeed, we must 
eat roots and herbs ; but let us make haste. On the 
delay of a few hours our safety may depend. -Forward, 
then ! Let us descend, keeping as much as possible 
to the edge of the wood, and may God be with us, and 
preserve us under this accumulation of miseries ! ” 

They began the long and painful journey, and walked 
without stopping till noon ; then they resolved to rest an 
hour. Victor remained with the knapsacks, while his 
friends went into the forest to look for game. There 
were birds, indeed, on the trees, but they fired without 
hitting them. At the least noise, all the game flew away 
to a great distance. 

Silent and despondent they returned to their friend. 

‘‘Poor Victor!” said Kwik, sighing. “It is worse 
for him than for us. Haven’t you remarked, Mr. Jan, 
that he has scarcely any strength ? He doesn’t complain, 
but he seems very ill.” 

“ I see it, indeed,” replied Creps. “ His state alarms 
me more than all the dangers which threaten us. 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


244 

Still we must march and march on until we sink or 
meet with our deliverance. To rest is only to await 
starvation.’’ 

we could only procure for Victor a little 
strengthening food ! ” sighed Kwik. ‘‘But without eating 
how can he hold out a single day longer ? "What 
shall we do if we find nothing ? Victor must not die. 
Even were I to give him my own blood to drink, I 
would rather die than he. Ah ! hush ! hush ! I 
saw something there under that thick tree-root — an 
animal ! ” 

At these words he approached, bent down, and 
plunged his arm up to the elbow in the hole. He 
raised a sharp cry ; his eyes seemed to start from his 
head. 

“ What do you feel ? what has happened to you?” 
asked Creps. 

“ It bites ! It scratches ! Ah ! Oh ! ” cried Donatus. 

“ Let it go.” 

“ Let it go ! Ho : it may devour my hand ! I shall 
drag it out ! Let it go indeed ! and perhaps poor 
Victor’s life depends upon it. Ah ! I’ve got it by the 
neck ; I am strangling it. Here it is ! Look ! ” 

And he displayed an animal about the size of a 
rabbit, with very strong teeth and sharp claws, which 
resembled a weasel and had a very nasty smell. Blood 
flowed from Donatus’ hands, but he shook it oflP, and 
holding the animal up in the air, exclaimed, — 

“ Smell as bad as you like, old fellow ; in a quarter 
of an hour you will go into Bread Street ! It is true 


THE CORPSES. 


245 


that not a dog at Natten-Haesdonck would touch you ; 
but starving men musn’t be so particular.’' 

Giving the beast to his companion, he began to cut 
down wood with his knife. Then he made a fire, 
whilst Creps skinned the animal. 

Donatus had become quite merry again. He had 
such a light heart, that in the most painful situations 
he could laugh and joke, as soon as the smallest ray of 
light pierced the cloud of his sorrow. He tried to 
raise Victor’s courage by the hope of a dainty meal, and 
talked of dear and happy Belgium as if he were certain 
of seeing it again. 

The animal was soon cooked. It was very nasty; hun- 
gry as they were, they could scarcely eat it. Roozeman 
showed little appetite : his friends had to impress upon 
him that he would never be able to preserve his strength 
without food. He was silent and sad ; however, he did 
not complain, and even smiled at Kwik’s efforts to 
amuse them. 

They resumed their journey. They had many steep 
mountains to climb. Each time they reached a summit 
they gazed around on all sides in the hopes of discover- 
ing some encouraging and consoling object ; hut they 
saw nothing except endless ridges of mountains and 
barren valleys. 

After they had walked for three or four hours it was 
plain, though he would not confess it himself, that 
Victor’s strength was exhausted. 

They agreed to rest again, and make another attempt 
to obtain food; but at the very moment when they 


246 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


halted, Kwik picked up something from the ground, and 
cried, — 

‘‘ Men have passed here! This is an arrow — a strange 
arrow, too, with a piece of sharp stone at the end.” 

You know what Pardoes told us : it is a weapon of 
the Californian savages,” answered Creps. 

‘‘ Savages ! savages ! ” groaned Donatus, turning pale. 

I would rather die of hunger than have the skin of my 
head torn off by those horrible men. DonT let us stay 
here ! I will carry Mr. Victor on my back if need be.” 

Creps agreed that it would be prudent to move as 
quickly as possible from a wood which might serve as 
a shelter for savages. Donatus made Eoozeman lean 
on his arm, and he supported him so well and carefully 
that, worn out as his friend was, he managed to walk on 
for another league and a half, before begging them not to 
go any further that day. 

They were in a broad valley, through which a river 
had flowed during the rainy season. Now it was dried 
up to a little brook, which they could step over. As 
soon as the tent was pitched Creps and Donatus went 
to the wooded part of the valley to seek for game. 
After looking about for an hour they lost courage. 

‘‘Let us cease these useless attempts,” said Creps. 
“ Rest is as needful as food ; moreover, it is getting 
dark : we shan’t find any game if there is any. For 
once an empty stomach won’t hinder us from sleeping.” 

“Nevertheless I mean to eat,” said Donatus. “A 
hungry horse will eat thistles. I have seen many 
mustard-plants round the tent. I am going to make 


THE CORPSES. 


247 


soup of them, as my mother used to do for our cow. 
It may be nasty and bitter ; I don^t care. Our cow 
didn’t die of it: perhaps I shall thrive on it. We’ll 
try it, at all events.” 

He gathered an armful of mustard-plants and put 
them on to the fire in the saucepan filled with water. 

When it boiled he began to eat, inviting his com- 
panions to follow his example. It was so nasty that 
they could only swallow a mouthful. Donatus, how- 
ever, devoured the whole, rubbed his hands, and said, 
laughing,— 

Certainly, pork chops and cabbage would be better ; 
but so long as a ship has ballast enough, it matters 
little of what the ballast consists.” 

Overcome by fatigue, they all three soon fell asleep. 

In the middle of the night Donatus was awoke 
by a piteous groan. He listened anxiously : it came 
from Yictor. 

“ Mr. Eoozeman, what is the matter ? Are you ill ? ” 
he asked. 

Give me drink ! drink ! ” said Victor. I am 
burning with fever. But don’t make any noise ; don’t 
disturb Crops’ rest.” 

Kwik put his water-bottle to his lips. When he had 
taken a long draught he said, — 

Sleep now, good Donatus ; my sufferings are 
relieved.” 

“ How your forehead burns ! You are shivering and 
trembling. Poor Victor! Oh that I had the fever 
instead of you ! ” 


248 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


‘‘ It is Dothing/’ murmured Eoozeman : the excite- 
ment, the worry. Don’t be anxious : it will be over by 
to-morrow. Give me the bottle. If I want your help 
I will call you.” 

With anxious heart Donatus listened for a long time ; 
but, as Victor was quiet and his breathing seemed 
natural, he soon fell asleep. 


( 249 ) 


CHAPTEE XXXI. 

DESPAIR. 

was broad daylight when Creps awoke. He 
saw that Eoozeman, too, had opened his 
eyes already, and knowing nothing of the 
severe fever from which he had suffered during the 
night, he rejoiced at his apparently better health. 

Both arose and went out of the tent, having no 
doubt of finding Donatus near the fire ; but the fire was 
out, and though they looked in all directions they 
could see nothing of their companion. They grew very 
anxious. What could have happened to him ? Had he 
gone out in the night to fetch water and been devoured 
by a wild beast ? How they felt how great was the 
worth of the simple peasant, who, with the appearance 
of ignorance and indecision, bore in his heart a treasure 
of strength and courage. What would become of them 
without his help ? 

For a few moments they remained stupified beneath 
the terror with which such a loss inspired them. 
Creps fired his revolver in the air as a sign to Kwik if 
he were within hearing. 

Sounds in the distance, which they thought they 



250 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


recognised as Kwik’s voice, answered to the shot. They 
looked round them; hut though they heard the voice 
again several times they could not discover whence it 
came. 

They walked towards some lofty pines and cypresses 
on the mountain side ; another cry made them look up, 
and they now saw their friend in the top of one of the 
highest pines. At first they scarcely recognised him, 
for at three hundred feet above the valley he did not 
look bigger than a rabbit, but he waved his hat to 
them. 

Before they reached the foot of the tree he came 
running to meet them; laughing, jumping, capering, 
and holding something in his hands whose possession 
seemed to fill him with the wildest joy. 

‘‘ Oh ! A breakfast ! A nourishing breakfast ! ” he 
cried. “ We shall have quite a feast.’^ 

And he displayed to them a bird’s nest, in which were 
six eggs, a little larger than pigeons’ eggs. 

‘^Come,” said he, *^come to the fire. This will do us 
good and refresh us. I have just climbed such a high 
tree that I daren’t look down from it. The earth 
turned and danced round me. If I hadn’t shut my 
eyes I should’ nt have been hungry any more, I assure 
you.” 

They told him how his absence had alarmed them. 

Ah ! I never thought of that,” he said ; ‘‘ but I 
thank you for your good friendship. The mustard- 
plants didn’t agree with me, and I couldn’t sleep. I 
was up before daylight, and, in hopes of getting some 


DESPAIR. 


251 


game, I went into the wood. I saw nothing hut two 
large birds flying round and round the top of a tree. 
By their cries I knew their nest was there ; so up I 
climbed, and stayed there a long time, hoping to catch 
the father and mother, or both ; but I did not see them 
again.” 

The eggs were soon boiled in the saucepan. Kwik 
said the eggs belonged to him, and he would divide them 
as he liked; he insisted on Victor taking three, and 
Creps two, while he kept one for himself. 

His friends would not accept this sacrifice ; but he 
was firm. 

Come, come,” he said, don’t let us lose any more 
time. You can’t eat green meat as I can. The mustard- 
plants are not nice ; still they are satisfying ; so if I 
were now to eat as many eggs as you I should be 
doubly nourished, which would not be fair.” 

Donatus looked anxiously at Victor’s face, in which 
the fever had left ill-omened traces. In one night the 
poor young man seemed to have got thinner, his cheeks 
hollow and yellow, and his eyes bloodshot. 

Though inclined to be silent, Victor answered his 
friends’ questions as cheerfully as he could, assuring 
them that he was able to continue the journey. 

They had walked about an hour across mountains 
and valleys when they reached a wide vale covered with 
clumps of trees, small thickets, and high grass. The 
aspect of the vegetation here resembled what the gold 
seekers had seen in the Sacramento valley. They were 
cheered by the hope that they had taken the right 


252 OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 

direction, and had descended the Sierra Nevada, on the 
side of the sea shore. 

Victor did not say a word ; he was extremely tired, 
and accepted Donatus’ help without resistance, who 
held him with so much strength that he sometimes 
quite lifted him from the ground. Jan remarked how 
terribly weak his unfortunate companion had become ; 
but convinced that their only hope of safety depended 
on the rapidity of their march, he concealed his pity 
and anxiety and tried to inspire him with courage. 

Their joy was greater when they discovered traces 
of human footsteps on the grass. It was plain that ^ 
quite a troop of travellers had passed along there hut 
shortly before. 

They implored Victor now to summon up all his 
strength. They would follow these footsteps as quickly 
as possible, and perhaps before night overtake the 
travellers ahead of them. They walked on for a couple 
of hours more. 

As they were turning into a little wooded valley, 
Donatus, who walked first, started back with a cry of 
terror, and stuttered out : — 

‘‘A man ! have seen a man ! He is there against 
a tree, straight before us ! He is half naked ! I believe 
it is a savage ! What shall we do ? ’’ 

Stay here behind the shrubs and hide yourselves,” 
said Creps ; I’ll go and see what it is ! ” 

Cautiously he crept along the ground up to the edge 
of the wood. After a few minutes he returned to his 
companions, and said, — 


DESPAIR. 


253 


It’s horrible ! The man you saw is dead ; he seems 
, hound to the tree. Come : let us go nearer ! ” 

Kwik was in no great hurry. He followed slowly. 

Silent and trembling, they gazed on the corpse, which 
the numerous wounds with which it was covered made 
it impossible to recognise. 

“ How the poor man must have suffered ! said 
Creps. 

“ Shall we dig a grave for the unhappy fellow ? ’’ 
asked Victor. 

“ Dare I believe my eyes ? cried Creps. What 
we see here is a proof of the justice of God ! This 
, corpse is the sailor’s ! ” 

I “ Impossible ! You make a mistake ! ” exclaimed 
i Kwik. 

Ho ! look ! the little finger is wanting on the left 
I hand ! ” 

j Who has done this ? ” cried Donatus. 

** Who ? The Californian savages, of course ! God has 
thus chosen to avenge Pardoes’ murder ! ” 

Donatus could not listen to another word. He seized 
I Creps by the arm, and murmured, ‘‘ I have had enough 
of this terrible spectacle ! Come away ! We are in a 
den of savages. Come, or I shall run away, alone, as 
fast as my legs can carry me.” 

The others were obliged to follow him. After 
walking for some time, Victor implored a rest. 

“What a terrible punishment! What a horrible 
death ! ” sighed Creps. 

“He was a cowardly vagabond,” said Kwik ; “ but 


254 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


such a fate seems hard, even for him. Do these savages 
treat people thus for their pleasure ? ” 

It’s their custom, as we’ve been told, to bind their 
prisoners to a tree, and make them the mark at which 
they shoot their arrows. God knows how many hours 
this sailor heard these arrows whistling about his ears 
before he died ! What a fearful end ! ” 

“ And what can have become of our gold ? ” said 
Donatus. 

The Californian savages know the value of gold. 
You see they have taken everything from their victim, 
even his clothes.” 

“Pleasant, indeed!” growled Kwik. “We have 
dived into an icy pool which a white bear might have 
been afraid of ; we have risked our lives for a little 
gold ; and why ? To enrich these savages ! ” 

Creps took up his knapsack again. Donatus followed 
his example, offering his arm, as before, to Victor. 

On leaving the forest they saw before them an 
extensive plain, with a few patches of green on its rocky 
soil, but no trace of a tree. Kwik, still fearing the 
savages, hesitated to risk himself in this open space, 
where they could be seen afar off and from all sides ; 
but Creps would not diverge from the direction he 
had decided to take, so they continued their march. 

The sun was scorching and the air stifling. Every 
quarter of an hour they had to stop to let Victor 
rest — they perceived how exhausted he was, and that 
his legs had scarcely strength to carry him. They could 
not remain where they now were, fur there was neither 


DESPAIR. 


255 


wood nor water, and so no hope of finding anything to 
eat. About half a league before them they saw a thick 
wood. If they could reach it they would pitch their 
tent there and rest till the morrow. They encouraged 
their poor friend, supporting him on both sides, thus 
dragging him slowly along, weak and worn out, as they 
were themselves. 

Suddenly they felt how heavily Victor weighed upon 
their arms ; they stopped and asked him if he felt ill. 
He had not strength to reply. His head fell forward on 
his breast, his hands hung motionless at his side. 

His companions laid him on the ground, and with 
his head on their arms, they moistened his forehead and 
lips with water. 

Victor lay before them in a fainting fit, pale as a 
corpse. Notwithstanding all their efforts to revive him, 
he remained motionless, seeming as if he would never 
wake from this deathlike slumber. 

Donatus threw himself on his friend, and appeared so 
distracted that Creps felt almost as much pity for him as 
for Victor. 

But a cry of joy arose from the poor fellow’s heart when 
at last he saw Eoozeman open his eyes ; he lifted up his 
hands, and exclaimed : — 

Oh, thanks, thanks, most merciful God ! Do unto 
me as Thou wilt ; heap any sufferings upon me ; but he 
has a mother ! Oh, let him live ! ” 

After gazing at his companions for a few moments, 
like a man waking from a deep sleep, Victor tried to 
calm them. He said he had had an ordinary fainting 


256 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


fit. He was extremely tired and exhausted, but there 
was nothing else the matter with him. Creps and 
Kwik did not believe him at first, but when they saw 
him smile, their fears decreased. 

They were very near the wood ; so their tent was 
soon pitched, and Kwik announced that he meant to 
spend the rest of the day looking for food. Com- 
mending Victor to Creps’ care, he disappeared among 
the trees. 

In less than a quarter of an hour after, Eoozeman 
showed a strong desire to sleep. Creps threw his own 
blanket on the ground, and arranged a sort of bed for 
him as well as he could. In a few minutes Victor was 
in a deep slumber. 

Creps sat near the fire, his head on his hands, weighed 
down by the saddest thoughts. It was nearly dark when 
Kwik returned with an armful of mustard-plants. He 
had only been able to shoot two little birds ; but this 
small success pleased him, for it would serve at least as 
a meal for poor Victor. 

The birds were roasted at once, and they awoke 
Eoozeman to offer him the inviting food. He replied, 
in a very weak voice, that he was not hungry — that all 
he wanted was to sleep quietly. They must keep the 
birds for to-morrow’s breakfast. 

They returned to the fire. Creps did not seem to 
hear what Donatus said as he boiled the mustard- 
plants in the saucepan. 

However, he took some of the food ; but they were both 
soon disgusted with it. Even Donatus could not digest it. 


DESPAIR. 


257 


After a long silence, Kwik asked his gloomy com- 
panion anxiously, — 

‘‘ Mr. J an, you are quite different from usual. Are 
you really afraid that our poor friend will die in this 
wilderness ? ” 

What assurance have we that any of us will leave 
it alive ? ’’ he replied, sadly. Our fate is terrible, but 
we have deserved it. It is a punishment for our folly 
and ingratitude to God. We lived in a free and happy 
land. We had parents, friends ; we were not even 
poor. Yet we despised all these bounties of Provi- 
dence — ^insane as we were, renounced them all — you for 
gold, I for independence! You have some gold now; can 
it restore strength to our poor friend ? Can it prevent us 
from dying of hunger ? I am free and independent — 
yes, like a wild beast who has all nature for his enemy, 
who feeds on plants and is devoured by animals of his 
own species. Our folly and ingratitude to the Almighty 
has led us into all this misery.’’ 

Donatus took Crops by the hand, and said calmly, — 

‘‘Come, come, Mr. Jan, don’t lose courage. Yery 
likely our awful fate is a just punishment from Heaven. 
But look, our friend is sleeping quietly now ; perhaps 
he will be better to-morrow. With the exception of 
his illness I don’t think we have so much to complain of. 
We haven’t yet met with any wild beasts, bushrangers, 
or savages. For this I think we ought to thank God. 
Come, Mr. Jan, I know it is only Victor’s sickness 
which makes you so sad ; but take courage, he will 
get well, I feel sure. As long as there’s life there’s 

R 


25 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


hope; but we must bear our lot patiently, to the 
end.” 

J an remained silent for a few moments ; then he got 
up, and said, — 

“ Go and lie down, Donatus ; I will watch and attend 
to our friend if he requires anything. In a couple of 
hours I will wake you, and you shall take your turn.” 

You alarm me,” cried Kwik ; do you think then 
that Mr. Victor is dangerously ill ? ” 

“ !N’o, but he must not be left without being watched. 
Go to rest, I pray you.” 


( 259 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

DELIVERANCE. 

ICTOR had only slept a couple of hours ; then 
a burning fever had manifested itself, 
which seemed as if it would consume the poor 
young man. His head was burning, his breath weak — 
he was quite unconscious. The only word he could 
articulate was, “ Drink ! drink ! 

Creps and Donatus sat beside him in the tent, a 
bottle in their hands. Towards midnight the fever 
seemed to decrease a little, and their hopes revived ; but 
it was not for long, as the fever soon returned with 
redoubled violence. By-and-bye he began to talk 
wildly about Belgium, his beloved mother, and Lucia. 
He thanked Grod for bringing him back, a happy mil- 
lionaire, to his native land. 

Every one of these words cut his friends to the heart. 

For a long time he continued talking thus, till his 
voice grew weaker and weaker, and he sank at last into 
a peaceful sleep. 

“ Ah ! the terrible fever has ceased,” exclaimed 
Donatus : “There is some hope, Mr. Jan ; some hope ! ’ 
Hope ! ” murmured Creps* “And if he did recover 



26 o 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


it would be of do use ! Oh, what will become of us ? I 
am tormented with hunger.” 

Donatus took up something in the darkness, and said, 

Come ! Come ! eat this ! ” 

‘‘What, the birds? his food ? ” cried Jan. “ I would 
rather die.” 

“ Eat, I tell you ; I will go into the wood ; yes, I will 
find something else, even if I have to burrow into the 
ground. It isn’t quite dark outside. Come, take the 
birds or I will run away, and |’you will never see me 
again.” 

“ Hunger is a cruel tyrant ! ” groaned Creps. “ But 
you must eat one of the birds, too.” 

“ I ? ” cried Donatus. “ I don’t pretend that I’m not 
hungry, but I can wait some hours longer. Watch 
beside Victor. Possibly, I shan’t be back till dawn. 
This time I won’t stop my hunt till I have game enough 
to provide us with a plentiful dinner. Farewell ! ” 

With these words he disappeared. 

Victor appeared to be asleep and did not move. 
Creps sat beside him till daylight entered the tent. He 
had eaten one of the birds, and put the other aside in 
his knapsack. He looked at it often with eager eyes, 
feeling scarcely able to resist the temptation of taking 
that, too ; but the idea that Donatus might return with 
empty hands, and that Victor on awaking might ask for 
a mouthful of food, prevented him from touching it. 

The sun had risen when Kwik appeared and asked 
anxiously how Victor was. He had been disappointed 
in his hope of finding game, but he brought back enough 


DELIVERANCE. 


26r 


to keep them from starvation for half a day. In one 
handjhe held an animal like a rat, in the other a bird 
like a crow. 

No sooner were these animals cooked than they were 
devoured with a ferocious appetite. They kept, however, 
the best and tenderest parts for Victor. 

‘‘ This meal has restored me my reason and courage,” 
said Creps. ‘‘ Yes, there is still some hope of deliver- 
ance. "We must start, and walk on till we get out of 
this desert. We must carry Victor, and rest very 
often.” 

Just then they saw Victor standing up in the tent, 
resting on the pole which supported it, and looking at 
them with a quiet smile. 

Their pleasure was of short duration. When poor 
Roozeman tried to take a step forward his legs gave 
way beneath him, and he fell back heavily on the 
ground. The others ran to him, took him in their arms, 
addressing j him in kind words of encouragement and 
comfort. They trembled with alarm ; Victor’s face was 
pale as death. He took his companions’ hands, and 
said, in a weak hut clear voice, — 

My good friends, listen to me ; I have one prayer to 
make to you, a last kind act to implore from affection. 
Promise me you will consent.” 

‘‘Everything, even to our lives,” they both replied. 

“ Look at me, my life is near its end. Nature within 
me may struggle for some hours, perhaps for another day, 
against death; but I shall never see the Sacramento 
valley again.” 


262 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


Donatus tried to close his mouth, the tears poured 
down Creps’ face. 

Now, listen. I can scarcely speak,’’ he went on. 

You are wrong, friends, your love can help me but 
little. I am only an hindrance to you. In wishing to 
save me, you sacrifice yourselves. Oh ! I implore 
you don’t leave me to die with the terrible conviction 
that I am the cause of your deaths. Leave me to my 
fate ; fly from this wilderness, and save your precious 
lives ! ” 

His friends declared that they would perish together 
or escape with him from the terrible fate which threatened 
them, but he continued as if he had not understood 
them, — 

You love me, I know ; but do you doubt my love 
for you ? Why should there be three victims when fate 
only asks for one ? Be reasonable. Eeturn to your 
fatherland ; take to my mother my last farewell ; tell 
her — tell Lucia — that I died with their beloved names 
on my lips, that my last sigh was a prayer for their 
welfare.” 

Creps and Kwik, in their despair, knelt in silence- 
beside their sick friend. 

Suddenly Donatus arose, seized the lasso and the axe^ 
and said to Creps, — 

Ah ! it isn’t with tears that we conquer misfortunes. 
Eemain with Victor, try and comfort him : I will seek for 
a way of saving him.” 

HaLf-an-hour after he returned with something which 
resembled a ladder on his back. It consisted of two 


DELIVERANCE. 


263 


long, straight branches of a tree, connected together by 
several cords of the lasso, over which smaller and more 
flexible branches were placed. Taking it from his 
shoulder, he said, — 

Here is the way. This is a litter. Over it we will 
stretch the sail of our tent, and make a pillow of our 
blankets. Yes, Mr. Victor, you can’t refuse, you are not 
the master. We will try and carry you out of this 
desert, and you shall he with us so long as your heart 
continues to heat. Come, Mr. Jan, every minute is 
precious to us. Forward ! forward ! ” 

And, notwithstanding his protestations, Victor was 
placed on the litter. The least shake seemed to cause 
him pain, hut his friends were not kept back by this, and 
traversed the forest as if they were being pursued by 
slave-drivers. 

Every time they stopped to rest, Victor implored them, 
with clasped hands, to save themselves and abandon him. 
He said that the litter caused him intolerable pain. 
After they had advanced some two leagues, and with 
much difficulty had reached a wide plain, the poor fellow 
groaned. 

Ah ! you torture me pitilessly. Stop, stop, or I 
shall die ! ” 

They put down the litter. Victor continued, — 

‘‘ Take me off it ! I can go no farther ! Oh, friends, 
don’t be so cruel, let me die in peace.” 

Creps uttered a cry of despair, and said, — 

We are powerless ! God wills it, this desert must 
be our grave ! Well, let us die together here.” 


264 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


Suddenly Donatus sprang up. 

What is it ? What do you hear ? asked Creps. 

‘‘Silence, silence, both of you! I am not wrong; listen 
down there, a long way off — yes, yes, mules’ hells ! Oh, 
God be praised, deliverance ! ” 

And quick as an arrow Donatus disappeared from his 
friends’ sight. 

Turning his steps in the direction of the bells, he saw, 
in about a quarter of an hour, a troop of at least fifty 
mules, forming, with their muleteers, a long train. 
When he reached the head of the troop he fell down on 
his knees, and, with uplifted arms and in a supplicating 
voice, invoked the aid of the amazed muleteers. Though 
he tried to explain his distress in four or five languages, 
no one understood a word. They took him for a 
madman. Some pitied, others laughed at him. 

They formed a circle round him; with all sorts of 
gestures the poor fellow tried to make them understand 
his meaning. 

Suddenly, a young man, who walked lame, came 
towards him, looked at him for a few minutes, and then 
pressed him in his arms. 

“ Oh, what happiness ! ” cried Donatus. “ John 
Miller, the Enghshman ! God Himself has sent you. 
Victor Eoozeman, he who once saved your life, is at the 
point of death, behind yonder hillock. Come, and 
return his good deed. Perhaps you may yet be able to 
save him.” 

John Miller called an old muleteer, exchanged a few 
words with him, gave some orders to those around him. 


DELIVERANCE. 


265 

and then hurried across the plain with Kwik. All the 
mules followed. 

When they arrived at the foot of the hillock, Kwik 
shouted with all his might, — 

‘‘ Hurrah ! hurrah ! God is almighty and merciful ! 
Here is help ! Here is deliverance ! Our friend, John 
Miller ! 

After shaking Creps warmly by the hand, the English- 
man bent over the poor sick man, trying to arouse in his 
heart the hope of recovery. Among their party was an 
old Mexican, who was well acquainted with all the 
sicknesses of California, and the remedies employed 
to cure them. 

This Mexican already stood beside them, with some 
ten others, and three or four mules. 

“Well, Pablo,’’ said John Miller, “examine this 
young man. If you succeed in saving him, I will give 
you a hundred piastres.” 

Pablo for some moments kept his eyes fixed on the 
invalid. 

“ Strange ! ” he muttered, shaking his head. “ I don’t 
understand it. Perhaps that gentleman who speaks 
English will tell me how his companion fell ill, and how 
long he has been in that state ? ” 

Creps told him of all their misery, of their hard 
labour, and their dives into the icy pool. 

On hearing this the Mexican exclaimed, — 

“ I have it ! I will cure him ! ” 

The Mexican began by spreading on the ground near 
Victor four or five blankets, one above the other, so as to 


266 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


keep the cold away from him. On this they placed him, 
covering him with so many others that they threatened to 
stifle him. They brought hot wine in a tin howl. Old 
Pablo poured into it a powder which he called Extracto 
de la quinay and put a spoonful of the hot liquid to 
Victor’s lips, forcing him afterwards to take a great 
quantity of it. Crops and Donatus joined their prayers 
to his efforts ; at last the Mexican exclaimed with joy, — 

“Very good ! all right ! Leave me alone with him now. 
Go away a little ; I shall win my money : he will recover.” 

Meanwhile the muleteers had unloaded their beasts. 
Some were putting up the tents, others were making a 
large fire and preparing the dinner. They had heard of 
the starving condition of the poor Flemings, and they 
invited them to a good meal. 

All Kwik’s gaiety had now returned ; he ate so fast and 
plentifully — making such curious gestures all the time, 
that the muleteers could not help laughing at him. 
There seemed to be no end to his appetite. 

While the party were watching him in amazement, he 
suddenly jumped up and began to cut a number of merry 
capers, saying, — 

‘‘ It’s worth being well-nigh starved, to he able after- 
wards to enjoy such a meal as that. I feel after this that 
I could carry a mule on my hack. But I must go and 
see if our invalid is not better.” 

Victor seemed to sleep ; his face was flushed, the perspir- 
ation streamed down his forehead, his bed steamed as if 
he were placed over a vapour-bath. The Mexican was 
seated by his side between Creps and Miller. 


DELIVERANCE. 


267 

For nearly three hours he remained in this condition.. 
After placing his hand on his heart, the Mexican got up 
and said, — 

“ He is saved ! I have won my hundred piastres ! He 
will recover, though he will be very weak for some time. 
In about a quarter of an hour he will be cooler ; he will 
awaken; then bring him a little flour, boiled in water ! ’’ 

By-and-hye the invalid opened his eyes and gazed 
around him with wonder, and muttered, — 

Give me something to eat. Oh ! I am fainting with 
hunger ! ’’ 

Creps thanked God in a loud voice. Donatus cried, — 
Hold me ! Bind me ! I am half mad ! Oh ! dear 
old Mexican, let me embrace you ! ” 

They now brought the plate with the boiled flour for 
the invalid. Though he begged for more, the Mexican 
would only allow him a few spoonfuls, promising that in 
an hour he should have some more, and a little piece of 
meat. 

Victor informed his friends with joy that at present he 
was only suffering from fatigue ; he felt neither pain nor 
sickness. Meanwhile, some men of the party were 
arranging a sort of easy seat on a mule’s back. The 
invalid was then taken up, wrapped up in the warmest 
clothes, and put on the mule. 

Creps and Kwik walked on each side of Victor, 
encouraging and cheering him, as they talked of their 
oeloved country. 

Before nightfall, Victor had eaten twice. He was no 
longer ill, and enjoyed, that night, a refreshing slumber. 


268 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


Some days later, they reached the little town of Sacra- 
mento. John Miller lodged his friends in the best hotel, 
and did not allow them to spend a single dollar. He 
eharged the muleteers, who were to return to the dig- 
gings on the Pen river, with a letter for his father, in 
which he told him how he had found the Flemish gold 
seekers, his preservers, and that he meant to remain for 
rsome days at Sacramento to watch over them. 

As soon as Yictor felt himself strong enough to under- 
take a fresh journey, he urged their departure for San 
Francisco. Creps and Donatus were not less eager for 
the moment when they should he able to hid farewell to 
the shores of California, and set sail for their native 
country. John Miller conducted them to the steam-boat, 
which, twice a- week, made the voyage between the two 
-capitals of Northern California. 

When they arrived at San Francisco they went directly 
to the harbour, and inquired if there was any ship about 
to sail for Europe. They met an English captain who 
was going to start in a week for London, and who 
consented to take them at a reasonable price. 

John Miller wished to pay their fare, and assured 
them that his father would be very much annoyed if he 
did not give this slight proof of gratitude to those who 
had preserved his only son’s life. 

Creps and Poozeman refused this last kindness, because 
the three pounds of gold which Kwik carried in his 
breast would be more than enough. However, upon the 
earnest entreaties of their generous protector, they at last 
eonsented, on the condition that Kwik kept the gold he 


DELIVERANCE. 


26g- 

possessed as his own personal property. Any portion of 
it which they might spend in London to dress themselves 
suitably should be only a loan, to be returned to their 
comrade on their arrival in Belgium. 

When this was settled, Kwik secretly rejoiced at an 
arrangement which put him in possession of more than 
three thousand francs, and at the same time caused no 
loss to his friends. At the sight of such a sum, the 
police-officer might perhaps grant him the hand of his 
Anneken. 

Victor employed the week which they spent at San 
Francisco in writing a short and faithful account of their 
adventures in California. He added a letter to his 
mother, in which he told her that he and his friends 
would stop two or three days in London to provide 
themselves with fresh linen and clothes, and from thence 
he would inform her of the exact hour of their arrival in 
their native city. Creps wrote a letter to his father, and 
Donatus scribbled a few lines to Anneken and her 
father. 

On the appointed day, when the ship weighed anchor 
and the sails swelled with a fair wind, they took an 
affectionate farewell of their generous friend, John Miller; 
and, favoured by wind and tide, the vessel rapidly passed 
through the Oolden Gate, and the Flemish friends raised 
their loud hurrahs over the ocean whose waters also> 
bathed the shores of their beloved Belgium. 


( 270 ) 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 

THE RETURN. 

ra^^HE steamboat, the Soho, performing the service 
® ^ between London and Antwerp, was going up 
the Scheldt as usual. Passengers stood on the 
deck eagerly gazing towards the city. Their attention 
was more than once diverted by the extraordinary 
delight of three young men, with faces bronzed by the 
sun, who stood near the bows. 

It is needless to say that they were our old friends, 
Donatus Kwik, Jan Creps, and Victor Roozeman. 

The steamer had approached the city, and Donatus’ 
noisy joking was interrupted by a cry of joy from Victor, 
who exclaimed, quite beside himself, — 

“ There ! there ! My mother, Lucia, and her uncle ! ” 
‘‘ And my old father ! ” cried Creps. ‘‘ They see us ; 
they are making signs to us ; they are waving their 
handkerchiefs ; the Captain is calling out his welcome to 
us, making a speaking-trumpet of his hands.” 

The young men waved their hats, sending back a loud 
hurrah to the quay. They were wild with joy. 

Amid these gestures of delight the steamer touched the 
quay. As soon as it was possible to land, Madame 


THE RETURN. 


271 


Roozeman was in the arms of her beloved son, who 
pressed her to his heart. With equal affection Creps 
embraced his old father. Kwik said nothing, but he 
sympathised in his friends’ happiness. 

Lucia stood trembling as she waited for Victor’s 
greeting. The young man stammered an excuse in his 
mother’s ear, and hastened towards her. 

Lucia ! My good Lucia ! ” cried Victor. Thanks! 
thanks ! You have not forgotten me. I have suffered so 
much ; death has stared me in the face ; hut what are 
all these pangs and sorrows, now that I have the happi- 
ness of seeing you again ? ” 

The girl spoke some hardly-intelligible words of joy ; 
then, as if glad to find a pretext to change the subject, 
she exclaimed, — 

“ Victor, where is the good Donatus ? Next to God, 
it is to him that we owe your preservation.” 

“ Here is my deliverer ! ” replied Victor. 

Lucia grasped the honest fellow’s hand with the 
warmest gratitude. Victor’s mother, the Captain, and 
Creps’ father, also heartily shook him by the hand. 
The young man was quite overcome, but he managed to 
say that he did not deserve these marks of kindness ; for 
indeed Mr. Victor had really helped and protected him 
during the journey. 

The happy party left the steamer to go to their own 
homes. 

When Kwik saw his friends turn down a side-street 
he pressed Victor’s hand, and said, — 

‘‘ Now, Mr. Victor, good-bye ; yonder is my road.” 


272 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA, 


What do you mean, Donatus ? Where are you 
going?’’ 

“ Can you ask ? To Natten-Haesdonck.” 

‘^No, good Donatus, come with us,” said Eoozeman’s 
mother. “We have prepared a good dinner to celebrate 
Jan and Victor’s return. You, their best friend, must 
not be absent from the feast. Stay and sleep at our 
house ; to-morrow morning you can start early.” 

“ Impossible, Ma’am ! ” said Kwik sadly. “ I shan’t 
have a moment’s rest till I know at least whether she is 
still alive — she for whose sake I went to that horrible 
country — California . ’ ’ 

“ Anneken of ITatten-Haesdonck ? She lives ! ” 

“ Ah ! you know her. Ma’am ? ” 

“Certainly. Since I received Victor’s first letter I 
have been four times to her father’s house.” 

“ Is she married. Ma’am? ” 

“ No, not yet.” 

“God be praised ! ” cried Kwik. “ What a weight 
is taken off my heart ! ” 

“ She has been ill, the good girl,” said Lucia ; “ but 
now she is well again.” 

“ 111, Miss ? Dangerously ill ? ” 

“ Bather so, Mr. Donatus. She is always thinking of 
you, and is very sad. Her father wishes to marry her 
to the blacksmith’s eldest son.” 

“ And she has refused out of love for her poor 
Donatus ! ” cried Kwik. “ Thanks ! thanks to the 
brave girl ! ” 

Victor’s mother sighed. 


THE RETURN. 


273 


What do you mean, Ma’am, by that sad sigh ? ” 
cried Donatus. 

Nothing, good friend ; only this policeman is a very 
obstinate man, and it is by no means certain that he 
will give you a friendly welcome at first ; but don’t lose 
courage.” 

Kwik looked thoughtful ; then muttered, — 

‘‘ Ah, indeed ! the blacksmith’s son ! He is a famous 
fellow ; his father has money. Alas ! alas ! ” 

Lucia took him by the arm, and tried to revive his 
hope and confidence. They had reached Madame 
Eoozeman’s dwelling; they passed through the shop 
into a large room, where quite a feast was pre- 
pared. 

Madame Eoozeman sat between her son and Donatus, 
the Captain and his niece opposite, Creps and his father 
on either side. All did full justice to the repast. A 
hundred questions were put to the travellers about their 
adventures. 

Victor, as he gazed on Lucia, was now and then 
troubled by an anxious thought. He had come back 
without a fortune, without gold. The Captain would 
without doubt hold to his first conditions, so that Victor 
would have to begin his long probation again, and the 
dearest wish of his heart could not be realised until he 
was independent. However, he tried to drive away 
those gloomy thoughts, and give himself up to the 
joy which filled all around him. 

Jan Creps replied seriously to a remark of his 
father : — 

s 


274 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


‘‘ Listen, good father. I have returned poorer than 
when I started. This voyage, however, has taught me 
that one ought not to run after fortune in foreign lands, 
and that our own dear country oiSers enough happiness 
to him who tries to obtain it by work and industry. 
The folly of youth has now passed away. I shall look 
out for a fresh post in an office. The desk shall no 
longer weary me. Be certain of this, you will have 
henceforth no fault to find with me.” 

His father did not seem to think much of these fine 
promises, and replied, with a smile, that they would 
settle that business later. 

At dessert Captain Moreels said that he wished to 
propose a toast ; and he spoke as follows, — 

‘‘ My young friend Roozeman, I was the cause of 
your departure to California. I have attained my 
object ; you have seen the world and become a man of 
experience, with a strengthened mind and with a heard 
on your chin. But as I was at the same time the cause 
of all the dangers and sufferings you endured, it is 
but just that I should do something to discharge my 
debt towards you. Come, friends, drink to the health of 
Victor Roozeman and his betrothed, Lucia Moreels. In 
six weeks the wedding shall take place ! To my arms ! 
to my arms ! ” cried the Captain. 

Scarcely were the words out of his lips, when Victor 
and Lucia were clasped to his breast, while they blessed 
and embraced him. Freeing himself from them he said 
laughing, — 

Come, come, that will do ! You need not choke me. 


THE RETURN. 


275 


I know very well tkat you love me sincerely, and that 
you will be happy. 

Creps’ father now got up, as he too wished to make a 
speech. Turning to his son, he said, — 

‘‘ Jan, you promised me just now that you would work 
zealously to win an independent position in our own 
country. This has pleased me, for it doubles the 
value of the good news which I have to tell you. My 
trade has been very flourishing during your absence, 
and I can now make some sacrifice to insure my 
son’s happiness. I have agreed with Captain Moreels ; 
we shall unite between us the necessary capital to 
establish a house of colonial produce. We place this 
capital in the hands of those dear children whom God, 
after so many pains and trials, has brought back in safety 
to our arms. Well, friends, I wish the prosperity of 
the new house of business about to be founded under 
the firm of Jan Crops, Victor Koozeman, and Co.” 

Loud applause followed these words ; and Crops was 
especially delighted that this arrangement would link his 
fortune with that of Victor Eoozeman. 

But now Donatus hung his head over the table to 
hide his tears. All did their best to console him. 

It was some time before Kwik could master his 
feelings and raise his head. Then he said, — 

“Well, I was thinking of my poor Anneken, but I 
must not be unhappy ; the joy of my dear companions 
should console me. God is good, but the lot of all cannot 
be equally prosperous.” 

“We are forgetting the good Donatus,” said the 


276 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


Captain. “A happy thought strikes me! At Aert- 
selaer, not far from Natten-Haesdonck, I have a small 
farm, which might he increased in time. It is good, 
fertile land. The farmer is dead, and his widow leaves 
the farm next month. Would our friend Donatus 
like to rent this farm of me ? If so, he shall have it 
on reasonable terms. I wiU help him by every means 
in my power. In the hope that he will accept, I wish 
all success to Master Donatus, tenant of the Blue 
Farm.” 

Every one applauded, and congratulated Kwik. 
When silence was restored, he said, — 

“ I don’t know how to thank you ! You are too kind, 
my good friends. But without Anneken I can do 
nothing : without Anneken I won’t stay in this coun- 
try ; but I shall go to Holland and enlist as a soldier 
for Batavia.” 

The servant came in and said to Victor’s mother, 
“ There is a man in the shop, ma’am, who insists 
on speaking to you. He is dressed like a police- 
officer.” 

If it were only Anneken’s father how I should 
dance with joy ! ” cried Donatus. ‘‘ Oh, how I wish it 
might be ! ” 

Madame Boozeman left the room. Donatus was pale 
with anxiety. 

The door opened, and he exclaimed, “ Anneken ! dear 
Anneken ! ” 

“Donatus ! Donatus ! ” was the reply. 

Kwik jumped up from the table, throwing two 


THE RETURN. 


277 


plates and three glasses to the ground, and ran to press 
Anneken in his arms. 

But the police-officer stood between them, and pushed 
Donatus back, saying indignantly, ^V^hat boorish man- 
ners these are ! Do you know where you are ? Behave 
properly ! ” 

His severe look made poor Donatus turn pale, as if he 
saw his sad fate. Holding out his trembling hands he 
stuttered, Dear sir, have pity on me and on your good 
Anneken ! ’’ 

‘‘ Everything must take its course regularly and pro- 
perly,” said the police-officer. “ I wish to say something 
to you, Donatus, which will give you pleasure; but I 
shall first, as it is proper to do, ask permission of these 
ladies and gentlemen.” 

‘‘Yes, yes ! make him happy, the good Donatus ! We 
shall all be grateful to you ! ” exclaimed everybody. 

“ Donatus Kwik,” said the police-officer, “ you have 
brought 3000 francs in gold back from California, have 
you not ? Ho, no, leave it : I believe what you say. 
You will be brave, honest, industrious? Well, then, 
make my Anneken happy ; I accept you for my son-in- 
law. Come ! ” 

Kwik threw himself into the arms which were opened 
to him, and embraced his future father-in-law, notwith- 
standing his severe aspect. 

He ran to Anneken, and pressed her also to his heart ; 
but the police-officer separated them, blaming him for 
his rude manners. 

“ Pardon me,” he cried. “ I can’t help it ; I am mad. 


278 


OFF TO CALIFORNIA. 


Am I awake, or in a dream ? 'No, no, it’s all true ! 
Anneken, tke good Anneken, is to be my wife ! I am 
to be tbe husband of Anneken ! Ah, Mr. Victor ! wbo 
could ever have hoped for this day when we dived into 
that abominable pool of icy water ? ” 

Then he added, ‘‘ My friends, I pray for the health 
and long life of my Anneken, the wife of the tenant 
of the Blue Farm at Aertselaer ! I bless God, Who has 
brought us safely back from all the dangers into which 
our wicked thirst for gold led us, and Who makes us 
now so happy with the prospect of honest work in our 
dear Fatherland.” 

Here ends our story. The three friends whose varied 
fortunes we have followed through so many dangers, 
difficulties, and terrors, now settled down to that quiet 
life of peaceable industry which during their wanderings 
they so often regretted having ever forsaken. They had 
fallen victims to the subtle temptation of that lust for 
wealth, which had proved a snare to some, and ruin to 
others. They had not poverty to plead as an excuse ; 
they did not know when they were well off ; they aban- 
doned home and friends, seized with an infatuated desire 
of becoming suddenly rich. Bitter experience soon 
caused them to repent their rash decision. Exposed to 
every sort of danger in succession, death at last stared 
them in the face. 

But God had not forgotten them, for He never for- 
sakes His children. In all their wanderings He was 
near, watching over and protecting them. In their 


THE RETURN. 


279 


greatest extremity, when they called upon Him, their 
loving Father above listened to their cry and helped 
them. 

‘‘ They went astray in the wilderness out of the way, 
and found no city to dwell in. 

“Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 
So they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He 
delivered them from their distress. 

“ He led them forth by the right way, that they might 
go to the city where they dwelt.” They had learned a 
lesson which was ever hereafter indelibly impressed on 
their minds — the duty of contentment, and experienced 
in subsequent years as surely the truth of the Apostle’s 
words : “ Godliness with contentment is great gain,” as 
previously they had done the saying of the same Apostle^ 
“They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare.” 


THE END. 


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